A DRAMA student is studying at one of the world's most famous academies after help from a North-East charitable trust.

Catherine Dryden, from Chester-le-Street, is studying at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, better known in the theatrical world as RADA, following a grant from the Sunday for Sammy Trust.

Her move to London means she can perform in full-scale main stage productions and student-directed films, as well as giving her the experience to audition for West End parts.

She said: "I'm a proud working class girl, my Granddad Dryden was a miner and my Granddad Dean worked in the shipyards.

“I am eternally grateful to the Sunday For Sammy Trust, for funding me through my third and final year at RADA.

"Without them I wouldn't be where I am today, having the time of my life and making my dreams come true."

The charity's income comes from the regular Sunday for Sammy concerts at the City Hall in Newcastle, staged for the last 16 years in memory of the actor Sammy Johnson.

The new Sunday for Sammy 2016 DVD is released for sale this week, featuring music from Lindisfarne frontman Ray Jackson, a moving tribute to the late Brendan Healy, a Great North Run sketch featuring Denise Welch, Charlie Hardwick and Brendan Foster and an Auf Wiedersehen Pet sketch set in the time of Helen of Troy.