It’s not quite time to stop believing for one local youth club set to compete at a national theatre competition inspired by popular TV show Glee.

The Rising Stars Academy Glee Club has won a place in the final of the 2016 Jack Petchey Glee Club Challenge, which takes place at London’s Indigo O2 in March.

A 12-strong team of girls aged between 13 and 17 saw months of training pay off when they qualified from the Kent regional final.

Their impressive performance followed a series of boot camps run by West End theatre professionals, and club founder Laura Holland is delighted with the team’s progress.

“We loved the Boot Camp and learned so much from it,” she said.

“It was an honour competing on that stage and we can’t wait for the final at the Indigo 02.

“This is our biggest event by far, particularly as we are not a business so we can be quite inclusive with our students, many of whom come from diverse backgrounds.”

“What a fantastic opportunity and wonderful memories for our girls.”

Laura, a theatre director and lecturer in performing arts at North Kent College, started Rising Stars in 2008.

She described the prospect of watching the academy’s Glee Club sing in London as “a buzz”.

“We entered once before through our classes in Bexley,” she explained.

“It was a buzz then but honestly what a buzz now.

“This is our biggest event by far, particularly as we are not a business so we can be quite inclusive with our students, many of whom come from diverse backgrounds.”

The Glee Club Challenge is the flagship programme of The Jack Petchey Foundation, established in 1999 to recognise the positive contributions young people make to society.

More than 3,500 performers have taken part since it launched in 2011, with a high profile judging panel featuring West End star John Partridge, while TV’s Graham Norton is also a patron.

The popular chat show host said: “Every year I am moved by these young people.

“There is so much passion in their performances it brings a tear to the eye. They are a joy to watch and a real challenge to judge.”

“There is so much passion in their performances it brings a tear to the eye. They are a joy to watch and a real challenge to judge.”

Tickets for the final cost £13 and are available from tomorrow (Friday) from theO2.co.uk.

For more information on Rising Stars Academy, visit facebook.com/RisingStarsAcademyMI.