Spa actress Ela Kay dazzled fans when she attended the British Soap Awards 2003 on Saturday.

Accompanied by her mum Annette Westray, Ela, who plays Caroline Shaw in BBC show Doctors, strutted her stuff down the red carpet at the London bash. The show is due to be aired on ITV tonight (Wednesday) at 8pm. Twenty-one-year-old Ela was nominated for two awards - best newcomer and best heroine award - but returned home empty handed.

However, her mum, who owns the True or False beauty salon in High Street, said they enjoyed an unforgettable night.

The pair rubbed shoulders with Britain's top soap celebrities. Annette said: "The cameras went mad for Ela and inside were many famous faces. I met and saw EastEnders actors including Phil Mitchell, the new dirty Den, Alfie Moon and Natalie Evans."

Ela, whose real surname is Kleszczynski, still lives in Droitwich and began her acting career at the Norbury Theatre, aged 12.

The budding star, who has also appeared in BBC drama Holby City, is due to leave Doctors, which is filmed at Pebble Mill, at the end of the month.