Alex Roach, 15, has been named best child actor in a soap at the annual Children in Entertainment Awards.

I did not think I was going to win but we all had to go on stage and they read the winner out - I was shocked Alex Roach

She was presented with her prize by Denise van Outen at the ceremony held at London's Grosvenor Hotel on Sunday.

The teenager, who plays Elin in the Welsh language series shown on S4C, beat off competition from the likes of Edward Savage who plays Steven Beale in EastEnders.

But the Amman Valley Comprehensive School pupil says success will not go to her head and is spending part of her half-term holidays revising for GCSE exams in May.

"I did not think I was going to win, but we all had to go on stage and they read the winner out - I was shocked," she said.

"I did not think about winning otherwise I would have prepared a speech.

"Elin is quite a mischievous character and she gets up to a lot of things.

"I have been playing her for about three years but have not been in it for the last seven months because I have exams this year," she added.

Harry Potter

Pobol y Cwm is not the only acting job Alex has secured.

Since joining the Mark Jermin Stage School in Swansea she has also appeared in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and the Hugh Grant movie About a Boy.

She hopes to pursue an acting career after her exams and to return to Pobol y Cwm.

Alex is a talented young actress and she's taken on the role of Elin with enthusiasm Bethan Jones

"It is something I have really enjoyed," she added.

"Since joining with Mark I have become a lot more confident, and I have learned a lot from him."

During her time on the soap, she has had to juggle acting with her school work but has been chaperoned by her big sister Katie or aunt and tutor Delyth while on set.

Pobol y Cwm producer Bethan Jones said the cast was delighted Alex had won.

"Alex is a talented young actress and she's taken on the role of Elin with enthusiasm," she said.

"Elin's recent storylines have been challenging and demanding, but Alex has tackled them with eagerness and dedication," she added.