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Acrobatic dancer Holly Johnstone scooped first prize in Lancaster and Morecambe Newspapers' talent contest on Saturday at Lancaster and Morecambe College, then 24 hours later made the semi-finals at the Miss Dance of Great Britain event in Blackpool.

So it was an understandably tired Holly who said after her double success: "I'm coming down to earth now!"

Holly wowed the Talent On Show judges with a "flawless" display of dance – combined with perfect somersaults, backflips and splits – to music from 'Cirque du Soleil'.

After the 16-year-old student from Ripley St Thomas School was announced as the winner, the panel praised her 11 years of dedication to perfecting her art.

Holly said she was "overwhelmed" with her win, which saw her beat 15 other acts including a hip-hop dance troupe, an illusionist who made a table fly through the air and a seven-year-old Elvis Presley impersonator.

"I wasn't expecting it at all – the other acts were really good," she said.

Holly hopes to spend her prize money on attending further dance and
circus schools so she might achieve her ultimate ambition – to work for Cirque du Soleil.

Runner-up was 11-year-old singer Eva Parkinson, who earned a standing ovation for a spine-tingling rendition of 'Summertime' by Ella Fitzgerald.

Eva so impressed judge Martin Shenton, owner of Morecambe's Streetwise Stunt School and film studio, that he donated £250 of his own money as a special bonus prize.

It was an especially emotional night for Eva, who attends Torrisholme Primary School, as her mum died earlier this year.

She said she chose the song because it was one of her mum's favourites and she was singing it to her.

Also reaching the top five acts in the event, held at the college's Hexagon venue, were teenage hip-hop dance troupe NW Culture, apprentice plasterer turned swing singer Jay Riding and 10-year-old Amy-Jo Clough, who sang 'Chasing Pavements' while dressed as Cinderella.

The other finalists were 12-year-old drummer Danny Matthews, seven-year-old Elvis-lover Ciaran Sutcliffe, young singer Zoe Leeds, 13-year-old vocalist Lucy McWhirter, barmy comedy impressionist Allan Strong, teenage rock guitarist Connor Gallagher, magician David Wilson, eight-year-old Michael Jackson singer/dancer Ben Salem, Crazy Frog ballet dancer Clarissa Bousfield, singer Jodie Tarney and singer Kirsty Harvey.

The judges, who chose the winner, were Martin Shenton, manager of The Platform and former circus star Mary Lucas, owner of The Dance Factory Tracey Austin, and DJ/party compere Trevor Cooke. Our own Greg Lambert presented the show.

Organiser Michelle Jolly praised the high standard of the acts.

"The show went extremely well, the venue was fit to burst and everyone seemed to have a good time," said Michelle.

The event was sponsored by Jo and Cass Hair and Beauty.