A TALENTED young dancer is following in the footsteps of Jude Law and Billy Elliott star Jamie Bell by landing a part in a major production.

Alex Nicholson will appear in the musical show Orvin with the National Youth Music Theatre at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, in Scarborough.

The ten-year-old, from Arthur Pit Cottages, in Billy Row, beat about 2,500 young hopefuls who auditioned at Newcastle for a trip to London, where he was selected to join the show's cast.

Alex, a pupil of Peases West Primary School, has been dancing for nearly four years after catching the bug from his sister Rebecca, 14.

The pair dance at the Joanne Banks Dance School, in Spennymoor, and Alex has performed at the Sunderland Empire and Gala Theatre in Durham.

He said: "I've enjoyed dancing for a while and performing on stage is always the best. It is really exciting to be part of a professional show and seeing an audience enjoying it.

"I was really pleased to be chosen for this musical. There were a lot of people auditioned for a dancer's part.

"It will be good to work with the National Youth Music Theatre because some really successful people have trained with them and it will help me get better."

At the weekend the ten-year-old rehearsed with the NYMT, where Jude Law and Jamie Bell trained, and will be doing so again next month before the show opens in July for its five and a half weeks run.

Grandmother Joyce Pearce said: "We're really proud of him, Alex and Rebecca both do their best when dancing and it is paying off. It is very exciting to see him perform in such a big show and see how much he enjoys it."

Alex needs to raise sponsorship to travel to rehearsals and take part in the play. Anyone who wants to help should call (01388) 764044.