TEENAGER Sarah Davies who has fought and beaten anorexia is now pursuing a dream of becoming a singer.

When she was ill, Sarah, 16, focused her attention on her ambition, and said this helped her to beat the disease.

She said: "When I was in hospital I had to write down the bad points in my life and what I wanted to achieve and the good points outweighed the bad."

Now, in the first singing competition she has entered, she has beaten hundreds of other wannabes to get through to the final on April 3.

It was two years ago that she developed an eating disorder after she was bullied at school.

Doctors diagnosed depression and prescribed her anti-depressants but she was still not eating properly, and by last September was admitted to the Royal United Hospital, Bath, as her weight had dropped to five stone.

Sarah responded well to the treatment, which involved sticking to an eating plan and counselling. She left hospital a month later after having put on a stone.

Back at home in Victoria Park, Great Cheverell, she stuck to the eating plan and is now a healthy eight stone. She decided to enter a national singing competition organised by Pleasure Lands, a theme park in Southport.

She is now one of 12 people through to the final. The winner receives £500 as well as having their own CD made.

Sarah, a pupil at Lavington School, said the support of her family and hospital professionals helped her to rebuild her life.

She said: "Bullying triggered off the anorexia. I got a bit self conscious about my weight.

"I started cutting out food and counted the calories."

Sarah, who is to start a college art course in September, said: "It's nice to eat again. When I had anorexia I was torturing myself. It's like having two personalities and they are fighting against each other. The urge not to eat is powerful."

Following her experience she is urging people with eating disorders to get help. Sister Stephanie, 11, said: "When Sarah sings it brings tears to your eyes. She's beautiful and always has been."

Sarah's mother, Mandy Davies, 38, said: "We are really proud of her and how she has come through it."

A spokesman for the Eating Disorders Association said: "The peak risk age for developing anorexia is between 15 and 18. It is vitally important young people seek help as quickly as possible."

The association has a youthline on 0845 634 7650 and an adult helpline on 0845 634 1414.