TV dance show winner Charlie Bruce took centre stage yesterday before 250 children at her former primary school.

The 19-year-old So You Think You Can Dance champion was re-visiting Sherard Primary School, in Melton, where she was once a pupil.

And her former teachers remembered a happy, smiling youngster who was "always dancing in the playground".

Pupils cheered as Charlie walked into the Grange Drive school's hall.

The visit was one of a number on a hectic schedule she has maintained since winning £100,000 in the BBC competition almost three weeks ago.

Charlie, who is set to travel to Hollywood in August to star in the US version of the show, will hear soon if she has been successful following an audition for the part of Flashdance leading lady Alex, in the West End.

She also revealed she's working on another TV project.

She said: "I'm just so happy to be here. I wasn't the brightest button in the world but I just couldn't wait for play time to have a dance."

She told the children: "I couldn't believe it when I won. All my dreams came true in that one moment. It wasn't all about the money, but achieving the goal I'd set myself. Any one of you could do the same."

Charlie stayed at the school until her penultimate year when she was awarded a scholarship at the Arts Education School, in Tring, Hertfordshire.

Mum, Sally, who was with Charlie, said: "It was difficult to let go, but we knew that's what she wanted to do."

Teacher Julie Hastings said: "She was a delight, always smiling, very polite and interested in everything we did."

Teacher Isobel Quill said: "The smile you see there is the same we saw in the playground when she was here. She was a happy little girl, loved by her peers and the staff.

"It was delightful to watch her organising girls in a choreographic routine. She's a real inspiration."

Katie Bennett, 10, who wrote Charlie a letter of good wishes before the competition.

She said: "I think that Charlie has really achieved something which is breathtaking."

Molly Botterill, eight, said: "I think she is a really good dancer and I would love to be a dancer when I grow up."

Drew Bowker, seven, said: "I was amazed that I actually saw her in person, she's really lovely."