DANCE students in Darlington have achieved excellent results in their ballet, tap and modern exams.

More than 50 youngsters who attend the Rachel V Harrison School of Dance, at St Mark's Church Hall, in North Road, passed their exams.

In the Royal Academy of Dance ballet exams, Charlotte Jones was highly commended, and Sarah Thompson, Rachel Ashford and Charlotte Dean were all commended at Grade Three.

In the pre-primary class, Ellie May, Rosie Passman, Katherine Holden and Holly Parsons were all successful.

In the Dance for Dance Teachers' Federation tap and modern pre-primary tap exams, Michelle Leonard was awarded honours, while Ellen Gowling, Chloe Turner, Iona Richings and Holly Parsons were all highly commended.

In the primary tap, Julia Bellamy was awarded a distinction, while Elizabeth McLean, Rebecca Ashley, Frances McFadden, Alice Daniel, Shannon Bradley, Laura Bainbridge, Olivia Robinson, Saffron Johnson, Bethany Walker and Rebecca Bain all gained honours.

In grade two tap, Judith Wilkinson gained a distinction, while Rachel Ashford, Sophie Daniel, Marianne Sanderson, Jessica Simpson, Amy Simpson, Grace Simpson, Alexandra Bellamy and Charlotte Dean all gained honours.

In grade one modern, Rachel Ashford, Katie Rogers and Elizabeth Rudkin, Grace Simpson, Charlotte Dean, Jessica Simpson and Any Simpson all achieved honours and Samantha Oliver and Abbie Rogers were highly commended.

In the first shield modern, Imogen Hawthorne and Zoe Joanne Woodcock gained honours, and in the first shield tap Sophie Daniel was highly commended.

In gold medal tap, Lauren Beedle gained a distinction and Laura Ramsay and Marianne Sanderson were both highly commended.

At silver medal tap, Judith Wilkinson was highly commended, Nicola Jackson gained honours, and Grace Simpson achieved a pass mark.

In gold medal modern, Lauren Beedle gained a distinction, Laura Ramsay was highly commended.