It can't have escaped your notice, but for those unaware, Lauren Samuels, a local girl from Hinckley is getting closer to her dream of appearing on a west end stage. She is currently competing in the BBC's "Over The Rainbow" search for Dorothy.

Lauren started at the Hinckley Speech and Drama Studio and has performed many times on the Concordia stage.

She believes that Dorothy has a lot of balls and guts which she says she has - she wants to be a funny Dorothy, with lots of spark. She would also love to put all her training into action in the role. She feels that she is as impulsive as Dorothy is, and that like her, she is constantly striving for bigger and better things.

Please support our local girl, Lauren, and vote for her on Saturday BBC1, "Over The Rainbow".