A talented chorister has been offered a full scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Twenty-three year-old Allan Clayton, from Malvern Link, has been offered the chance to do a post-graduate diploma in vocal studies, leading to an opera course at the prestigious London institution.

Mr Clayton began singing in 1989 with the Cambridgeshire Boys' Choir, before becoming head chorister in Worcester Cathedral Choir, under Dr Donald Hunt.

As a tenor, Mr Clayton won a choral scholarship to St John's College, Cambridge, in 2000, from where he graduated last summer with an honours degree in anthropology.

He has remained in the college choir for an extra year to support the new director of music, Dr David Hill, and will take the starring role in the forthcoming Cambridge production of Britten's Peter Grimes, as well as playing Prince Tamino in Mozart's The Magic Flute.

Mr Clayton spent last summer in Germany with the Berlin Philharmonic chorus and orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle. He has also featured as tenor soloist in numerous broadcasts and recordings, including the latest CD by the Gents of St John, a Cambridge a capella choir which he manages.

"It's fantastic news. I'm very lucky to get the place," he said.