A TALENTED eight-year-old school girl is following in her sister's footsteps after finishing her second run in Les Miserables at the Liverpool Empire.

Ava Smith, the younger sister of former member of MerseyGirls dance group Annie Winstanley, has just finished her 25th show performing as Young Eponine/cover Cosette in the award-winning Les Miserables at both the Liverpool Empire and The Palace Theatre in Manchester.

Earlier on this year, Ava performed as Gretl in the Sound of Music at the Gladstone Theatre.

With both having attended Hoylake School of Dance, the sisters have been going from strength to strength with Annie being awarded a contract with P&O cruises to dance and perform around the world.

Since leaving Britain's Got Talent finalists MerseyGirls, Annie has graduated from Phil Winston's Theatreworks and completed dance teacher qualifications this July.

She has even held many workshops to inspire young dancers.

Proud mum Alison Smith said: "Both girls have trained at Hoylake School of Dance since they were very young and there success is down to the fantastic training and hard work of the teachers.

"Ava is hoping she can be as good as dancer as her big sister Annie and is still working hard and Annie is now ready to dance her way around the world."

Birkenhead High School Academy student Ava is sure to be one to watch for the future!