DISCO girl Lauryn Greenaway has endured two major operations on her heart, but it has not stopped the youngster winning a top prize at a dancing competition.

The six-year-old who attends West Kidlington Primary School, suffers from a congenital heart condition called aortic valve stenosis.

The illness is rare in children, although more common in adults, and means a valve in the heart becomes narrow.

When Lauryn was less than a week old, surgeons had to carry out an operation to open up her aortic valve.

And when she was three, the valve itself needed to be replaced, as it will again in a few years' time.

Despite growing up with the condition, however, Lauryn loves to dance and she won her section at the ADFP (Association of Dance and Freestyle Professionals) Southern Championships 2008, in Reading.

Mother Claire Mulligan, of Hazel Crescent, from Kidlington, explained how her daughter competed against about 30 boys and girls in the under eights section.

"She won and got a huge trophy," she said. "She danced fantastically - I'm really proud.

"I was so nervous for her because it was such a big championship.

"It's a big achievement - she's already had two operations on her heart and she can get quite out of breath. I cried when she won, I'd tears in my eyes. I couldn't believe it really.

"She knows her limits and she has adapted to her condition very well."

Lauryn, who attends the Flair Dance Studio in Oxford, said: "I won a teddy and I'm proud of myself."

Dance teacher Kelly-Jayne Poulter took about 50 children aged between six and 18 to the competition to compete against 1,500 of the best young freestyle dancers in the south of England.

She said everyone performed really well - especially Lauryn and Oxford girl Shekeenah Chobbah, who won the under 14s section.

"We didn't expect to make any finals, let alone come home with firsts, seconds and thirds," she said.

"It's the best the school has done for a long time. It's such a prestigious competition."

She said of Lauryn's particular success: "She was fantastic because of everything she has been through. It was brilliant for her to win - we were all crying."