For she is one of the children chosen to star in the fantasmagorical musical, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which has opened at Bradford Alhambra.

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The nine-year-old, who attends the Foebelian School in Horsforth, Leeds, shares the limelight with soap opera legends such as Kevin Kennedy and Ken Morley (Coronation Street), Tony Adams (Crossroads) and Christopher Timothy. now the wicked child catcher and once the caring vet in All Creatures Great and Small.

Frances was chosen from over 200 children to play Jemima. In the first round of auditions, she had to sing Truly Scrumptious.

Then she went through two more auditions, reading from the script and singing another song, before being offered the part. Rehearsals were fun, but hard work, and involved trips to London.

Froebelian headteacher John Tranmer said: "Frances is a normal, happy, fun-loving girl who works hard and is a fine athlete.

"She will no doubt feature in our spring festival and end-of-year musical production. We are looking forward to seeing her in her role and flying in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang."

Frances recently finished touring with Opera North in their production of Falstaff. She has performed in many amateur shows including Annie, Oliver and Gigi at the Leeds City Varieties; The King and I in Harrogate; and When The Lights Go On Again at Guiseley Theatre.

On TV she was Prudence, Belle Dingle's friend in Emmerdale, and Janey Woodbridge, a seriously ill child in The Royal.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has been at the London Palladium for nearly four years and is now in the second year of a European tour. It is at the Alhambra until Saturday, April 5.

With a cast and crew of over 100 (including 10 dogs), sensational sets and and special effects, the show tells the story of magical car Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, eccentric restorer Caractacus Potts (Kevin Kennedy) and his two children, Jemima and Jeremy, who have to outwit a dastardly baron and evil child catcher.

Tickets cost from £16 to £42.