A dyslexic teenager's lifelong dream of taking up dancing as a career has been shattered by Oxfordshire County Council's refusal to award her a grant, her family has claimed.

Distraught Johanna Beerling, 18, of Stockey End, Abingdon, looks almost certain to have to turn down a prestigious place at the Northern Ballet School in Manchester after receiving the local authority's rejection letter.

"She just burst into tears when she found out," said her mum Ann.

"She has wanted to take up dancing as a career ever since she first started at just four years old."

Johanna won a place at the famous ballet school despite having to halt her audition half-way through because of injury.

Tutors had already decided they had seen enough and said the Arts Council would pay up to half her fees - provided her local authority contributed £1,250 for each of the three years she was there.

But the county wrote to Johanna, saying her application for funding had been unsuccessful. Her family has now launched an appeal.

Mrs Beerling said: "They have smashed a young girl's dream.

"This was all she ever wanted to do. They don't realise how much goes into becoming a dancer. People see it on the TV and don't think about the hours of training involved. It is a constant commitment she has had to make."

Ian Crook, a county administration officer, refused to discuss Johanna's case. But he added: "The discretionary awards budget has been cut which makes it more difficult for us to fund individuals."

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