An aspiring young Bradford dancer has won a place at a prestigious London theatre school - despite being turned down for a grant twice by Bradford Council.

Ballet girl Laura Pollard, 17, of Creskeld Way, Allerton, said she was ecstatic after being offered a scholarship for the three-year performing arts course at the London Studio Centre but is angry that the Council did not support her.

Her family say they have been "led up the garden path" by the Council who, they claim, never give out discretionary grants to help talented youngsters.

But a Bradford Council spokesman said Laura was not eligible for the grant because she attended a private theatre school.

The Council said it could not comment on how many applications it had received for the discretionary grants this year of how many had been awarded.

Joan Pollard, Laura's mother, said: "I'm absolutely fuming with the Council who just don't seem to want to encourage young talent.

"They let you painstakingly apply for these grants and go through a long, drawn-out appeals process when they actually have no intention of giving you any money in the first place.

"Laura was absolutely shattered when she was turned down the first time and she put her place on hold for a year only to be knocked back again. They say that in exceptional circumstances they will give a grant which I believed we had. Laura has proven talent and I'm a single parent on a low income.

"She has worked hard from the age of four and sacrificed everything for her career.

"Bradford wants local talent it can be proud of, but it's not willing to offer financial support.

"If Laura wanted to go to university, she would be able to get a three year grant - but because it's performing arts she seems to be being penalised.

"Luckily the school realised Laura's potential and offered her a scholarship but we still have to come up with the cost of her living expenses and equipment."

The family were supported by Bradford West MP Marsha Singh and dance teacher Heidi Westman from Footsteps Theatre School.

"It seems so unfair that someone with so much talent and dedication like Laura could have missed out on a place at theatre school because of money," said Mrs Westman.

"The Council should be supporting these young people and would only have had to pay £1,200 a year for the course. I know families that are moving to Leeds just so their children have more chance of getting a grant."

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