A BUDDING thespian was left speechless after being accepted into a prestigious national theatre group.

Adam May, 19, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, has won a regional place with the National Youth Theatre after successfully auditioning in February.

Dozens of youngsters applied for ten North-East places, and were whittled down during five days of gruelling auditions in Newcastle.

Mr May said: "I had just finished a 12-hour shift working behind the bar at Auckland Castle when I read the letter telling me I’d won a place.

"I couldn’t believe it, I was speechless. I am so excited about it."

The youngster, who has just finished his A-Levels at King James 1 College in Bishop Auckland, has been a member of Bishop Auckland Theatre Hooligans (BATH) for over eight years.

He joins the youth theatre in London for eleven days from August 18, and plans to study Drama at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, in September.

Debbie Connell, who helps run BATH, said: "We are all very pleased with Adam’s progress.

"This is a huge opportunity for him, and an excellent achievement for someone from this area."