A TALENTED eight-year-old from Pendle is appearing in front of sell-out crowds in Les Miserables – the world’s longest running musical.

Ava Merson-O’Brien beat off competition from more than 300 hopefuls to secure the part of Eponine in the show at Manchester Palace Theatre.

She is no stranger to the limelight, having previously trod the boards in a number of well-known productions in London’s West End.

As well as starring on stage opposite Gareth Gates, the multi-talented youngster has also recorded a voiceover which will be heard in the forthcoming Hollywood film, Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland, starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter.

Ava, who lives in Fence, will spend the next three weeks dancing, singing and acting in the hit production until February 13. Her short career has already included roles in Carousel, at the Savoy Theatre, and The Wizard of Oz, at the Royal Festival Hall, London.

According to her mum, Krysia Merson, who is also an actress, the home-schooled youngster takes it all in her stride.

She said: “She absol-utely loves it and doesn’t get nervous in the slightest. It amazes me and her dad. We are very proud of her. She’s done rem-arkably well.”

Last year Ava spent time in a studio recording tracks which will feature as children’s voices in Tim Burton’s new blockbuster.

Krysia, who hails from the North West, said the youngster has ambitions to have more involvement in the silver screen in the future.

But, at the moment, she is concentrating on theatre and has shown a particular talent for ballet.

Her mum said: “She just got her Grade Two in ballet and achieved a score of 89per cent, so she’s doing really well.”

Ava moved from London to Fence with her mum and dad, Bill O’Brien, who runs Splinter Productions, in October.

She loves life in rural Lancashire because it allows her to spend more time with her horses.

But mum Krysia expects her to head back down south in the not-too-distant future as she bids to further her acting career.

She said: “Sylvia Young Theatre School are her agents and she’s hoping to go there full- time when she’s 11, which means she will have to move to London.”