CHANDLER'S Ford piano prodigy Ashley Fripp is now just one step away from the grand final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition.

Just before Christmas the talented 14-year-old travelled to Glasgow and booked his place in the semi-finals plus the final of the keyboard section.

Now the young maestro has his sights set on a February 9 date at the Royal Scottish Academy in Glasgow. If he is successful he will go through to the concerto final and play with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

Proud dad Mr David Fripp said: "Ashley is delighted. He spent all day before the quarter-final practising, was the first of the 12 to play on the day at 2.15pm and had to wait until about 10.30pm for the result."

Ashley, who will be 15 on January 17, was pitted against 19-year-olds in the competition.

Ashley took up a boarding place at the Purcell School of Music in north London last September, having been awarded a scholarship to go alongside his Saturday place at The Royal College of Music in London. He has been home for the Christmas holidays but has not wasted his time.

"He is practising from 9am to 9pm with a few breaks in between," said Mr Fripp.