A 'DIAMOND' dancer who stood in for her sick friend at a competition while recovering from a broken arm has won a special scholarship.

Carly Wilson, who attends Dancemania and DM Diamondz in Gourock, fractured her elbow back in May.

Despite having a plaster cast on her arm, the dedicated 11-year-old did not miss a single dance class.

Carly used the time to revise the routines that her classmates were learning.

Shortly after her cast was removed, she went along to cheer her team mates on at a competition.

At the last minute one of the dancers was forced to pull out due to sickness and Carly saved the day by standing in.

Her commitment has now been recognised by dance teacher Ann Marie Campbell who has awarded Carly with the George Houston Memorial Scholarship for 2018.

Carly, from Greenock, said: "I feel really good about it and I'm proud of myself.

"I'm the first person to win it."

Brave Carly said she was determined not to miss any training despite her injury.

She said: "I fractured my elbow but I kept coming to class as I didn't want to miss anything.

"I had a cast on from my hand right up to my shoulder but I sat and stretched."

Ann Marie said Carly really saved the day when her team-mate took unwell.

She said: "I thought 'oh my goodness, what will we do?'.

"Carly had her cast off so she phoned her mum to make sure it was okay for her to compete.

"I'm so proud of her, she is a wee star."

The scholarship, which has been set up in memory of Ann Marie's dad, means Carly will receive one year free of training.

Carly, who is set to start S1 at Inverclyde Academy tomorrow, says her mum Claire Malone is very proud of her.

She added: "When my mum found out about the scholarship, she cried because she was so happy."