A bank worker is swapping pound notes for musical ones after winning a national competition to sing with a leading opera company.

Emma Harrison, 22, of Manchester Road, Nelson, a customer service worker at Yorkshire Bank's Nelson branch, triumphed in an X Factor'-style audition to claim her place in the final of Opera-tunity Knocks'.

Emma, along with the three other winners of the internal staff competition, will start a month of vocal coaching with Opera North this week.

The starlet, who is a member of her local amateur dramatic society, progressed to the final by singing Voi, Che Sapete' from Mozart's Marriage of Figaro after impressing first round judges with a rendition of Patsy Cline's Crazy'.

The former St Hilda's pupil has four weeks to learn three arias for a one-off performance in a full opera costume at the Leeds Grand Theatre on October 25.

Her appearance at one of the region's most historic venues will include a solo and a duet from Mozart's Don Giovanni.

Emma said: "It's a great achievement, and one I still can't quite believe.

"As a keen singer I'm really looking forward to vocal coaching with Opera North and learning the arias.

"Opera-tunity Knocks has been a brilliant competition to take part in as it's got everyone around the bank talking about our sponsorship of Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera North."

Emma does not yet know if she will pursue opera singing further after the performance. She said she was going to see how it went first.

Sue Lees, one of the judges from Opera North said the standard of singing in the competition was very high.

She added: "Emma is a really worthy winner and an accomplished performer who I'm looking forward working with in the vocal coaching sessions."

The transformation of four bank workers into opera stars for the night was organised by the bank to highlight its sponsorship of the theatre and Opera North's new production of Rigoletto by Verdi.

Glenn King, Yorkshire Bank's general manager said: "I'd like to congratulate all the winners who have put in a lot of hard work and effort to make the final four."