Readers of the Hampstead & Highgate Express rallied round a budding actress by raising more than £1,500 in just a few hours to pay for her tuition at a top drama school.

Charlotte O'Leary, (19), is now able to take up a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art after the school's principal Nicholas Barter contacted the Archant paper seeking help.

And Charlotte will also keep the Express's generous readers up-to-date with her progress in a regular diary for the paper.

Series editor Geoff Martin said: "It's very heartening when readers respond so generously to an appeal as soon as a paper hits the streets."

Charlotte was just one of 34 students out of more than 2,000 hopefuls to be awarded a place at the school which boasts Sir John Gielgud and Sir Anthony Hopkins amongst its alumni.

She said: "It's amazing to think that people would come forward and help a total stranger. I'm speechless."

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