Lauren Ashwell, 14, and Leah Lloyd, 12, say all their dreams have come true after being crowned the winners of My School Musical, a take on the hit TV film High School Musical.

And they have thanked readers of The News who voted for them after they made a plea last month for support.

Lauren and Leah, both pupils at Cowplain Community School, sent in a home video tape of them dancing in their local community centre.

Leah, of Hambledon Road, Waterlooville, said: 'At the time we didn't really think we would get through but they chose to put ours on to the website.

'Then last Sunday I was at Lauren's house and the people from The Disney Channel came in and told us we had won.

'They were filming us and we were just screaming for ages because we couldn't believe it.

'They said that 42,000 people voted for us and the ones who came second got 23,000. We are over the moon.'

The pair were then chosen, along with two other groups, to be whisked away to London for a week to work on a new video of their dance routine, helped by a top choreographer.

The film was screened on the channel last Friday night and readers can now see this online at The News' website, www.portsmouth.co.uk

Lauren said: 'We know our dreams can come true now. All I want to do is perform and I want to be on the telly.

'If not I would like to be in shows in the West End.'

Leah's dream is to play Mary Poppins in the new version of the musical now showing in the West End.

Lauren's mum Lisa said: ' They are going all the way to the top. We're so proud of them.'