DURING the day Donna Dale is a mild-mannered dental receptionist.

But once she leaves the world of oral hygiene, the 28-year-old becomes Little Miss Roxxy – professional wrestler, pole dance and fire eater.

Multi-talented Donna, who hails from Newton Aycliffe, was selected by World Wide Entertainment to show off her skills as a potential WWE wrestling star.

She was one of just 28 athletes taking part, the only one between Leeds and Scotland, to be invited by the US wrestling entertainment company to the three day try out at Manchester Arena.

She said: "When they come to the UK they invite a mix of men and women to come along for the try-out to see if you have what it takes to be a future WWE star, or if they think you have potential they invite you along for three days to put you through your paces mentally and physically.

"To even just be invited along for a try-out means you're on their radar."

The event was held on November 5, 6 and 7 and challenged the hopefuls – only five of which were women – to participate in a series of tests, including running up and down the venue's stairs and wrestling, from 9am until 3.30pm with just a 20 minute break.

"To be invited along you have to have something that stands out about you. The coaches there are some of the best in the world.

"It is just such an incredible learning experience at the very least. To come from a try-out is to ultimately be a better wrestler so it's not bad at all."

Miss Dale, who now lives in Gosforth, Newcastle, and works in Wrekenton, has been training as an independent professional wrestler for three years at the New Generation Wrestling North-East Academy, in Chester-le-Street.

It is only in the last two years that she has been taking part in shows up and down the country while her wrestling has also taken her abroad to Germany, France and Spain, with her next appearance in Belgium in December.

As well as wrestling, Miss Dale has a background in pole fitness, aerial hoop, and fire eating – all of which she has done professionally.

"I've never liked normal fitness activities and I find the gym so boring," she said. "I watched wrestling my whole life growing up, thanks to my Nanna, and it was only a few years ago I saw there was a local pro-wrestling school so I thought I'd go along and check it out and since then there's been no looking back.

"One day I hope to make wrestling my full time career."