A TEN-YEAR-OLD boy who suffers from severe autism has made it through to the second round of a televised dance contest.

Jimmy Hobley, from Redcar, east Cleveland, featured on Sky One’s Got to Dance last night and won a place in the second round.

His mother, Sheila, said her son had been given a new lease of life through his dancing.

She said: “Jimmy’s autism meant that he could very rarely leave the house. He had no friends and used to communicate very little – he was in his own little world.

“Around two-and-a-half years ago, I got a leaflet through the door inviting me to a dancing session.

“I took Jimmy and his twin brother, who also suffers with autism, along to try and give them something to do; a way for them to meet friends.

“Jimmy took to it straight away and has never looked back.

“His dancing has completely regenerated his life.

Before he started to dance, Jimmy never talked, he had no friends and did not read or write. Since he started, that has all changed. I am so proud of him.”

The competition is filmed in front of a live studio audience and a judging panel, and is hosted by Davina McCall.

Mrs Hobley said: “The whole experience was nerveracking, for me... not for Jimmy.

“He went out onto the stage and danced his heart out, then he had to wait for around a minute-and-a-half while the judges deliberated.

“That was the longest minute-and-a-half of my life, but Jimmy just stood there, ever the professional, waiting for their decision.

“When I heard he got through, I couldn’t fight the tears, I grabbed hold of Davina McCall – I think she was more excited than me. It was very emotional.”

Along with his autism, Jimmy also had splints fitted to his legs as he used to walk on his tiptoes, leading to ligaments in his calves being pulled extremely tight.

His mother said: “I cannot believe how far he has come.

I am the proudest mother in the world.

“The judges did not have a bad word to say about his performance, they said he was an absolute star and I could not agree more.”

The chosen dancers will go through several rounds before they progress to live semi-finals, where they will compete for a place in the final and the chance to win £100,000.