Brittany Knowles's victory over other children at an arts festival singing contest was not enough - she went on to beat the adults as well.

The ten-year-old took the trophy for the under-12s vocal solo contest at the Darlington Festival for Performing Arts on Saturday,with a rendition of the folk song Gilbert Gim. But her mother, Alice, decided to let her daughter try her voice against more mature singers in the afternoon's open contest, which was mostly made up of adults.

Brittany went on to take her second trophy of the day, singing Getting To Know You, from the musical The King And I. It is the latest in a string of successes for Brittany, a member of the Stagecoach Drama Arts School whose former students include Pop Idol sensation Zoe Birkett. Last year, she was selected to play the lead in a production of Annie at Billingham Forum.

Alice, from Whinfield, Darlington, said: "I just think it was a real achievement for a ten-year-old."

The event was held at Eastbourne School, Darlington.

Alderman Leach Primary School received a first and a joint second in the vocal ensemble and a first and two second places in the prose speaking section.