Alicia Morton, from North Walsham, who will be dancing at the London 2012 Olympics' opening ceremony

North Walsham-born student Alicia Morton has been chosen to dance in the opening ceremony of this summer’s London 2012 Olympics.

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Alicia, 20, will start rehearsing in April for the spectacular which will take place at the Olympic stadium in front of a live crowd of 80,000 - and an estimated worldwide TV audience of over one billion.

She said: “The biggest audience I have ever performed in front of is about 250. I’m absolutely buzzing that I’ve been given this opportunity.”

Alicia, who is a third year BA performing arts student at Anglia Ruskin University’s Cambridge campus, grew up in North Walsham and attended Millfield Primary and Aylsham High schools, and Paston College.

Her parents, Mandy and Andy Morton, and younger brothers Joseph and Harry live on the town’s Norwich Road.

Alicia will be among thousands taking part in the July 27 curtain-raiser entitled “Isles of Wonder”, directed by Oscar-winning film maker Danny Boyle and inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Alicia said she had met and talked to Boyle at her second audition. She has now signed a confidentiality agreement and is unable to disclose any details of the opening ceremony.

Although dancing is only a part of her degree studies, Alicia follows in her mother’s dainty footsteps. Mrs Morton, nee Hall, was offered a place at the Royal Ballet School as a teenager but was unable to take it up.

She now runs the Cut Above hair salon in North Walsham Market Place. Alicia’s father owns Morton’s Footwear Repairs in the town’s Church Street.