A BUDDING actor could be following in the footsteps of a famous old boy at his school.

Thomas Wells was selected from hundreds of hopefuls to play the lead role in Oliver! for a summer holiday youth drama production.

The stage-struck 12-year-old began rehearsals with the rest of the 100-strong cast at the weekend.

Eleven days of round-the-clock rehearsing will culminate with a four-night run on stage at Durham's new Gala Theatre next week.

Thomas, from Billingham, is a pupil at the town's Northfield Comprehensive, and also attends Stagecoach Theatre Arts School at Yarm.

The last famous former pupil of both schools was Jamie Bell, the young actor who shot to fame when he played the lead role in the hit film Billy Elliot, for which he won a Bafta award.

Trudy Hindmarsh, the principal of Yarm Stagecoach and a former primary school teacher of Thomas, said even at a young age he was inspired to be the next Jamie Bell.

"I remember him telling me he had a dream to have drama lessons.

"Some time later fate intervened, and I saw him and his mother in the street, and invited Thomas to join Stagecoach.

"He has been with me now for three years and I'm thrilled for him that he won this coveted role.

"It is a wonderful achievement and the culmination of his dream.

"He is the same age as Jamie Bell was when he made his breakthrough and, no doubt, Thomas is hoping that all these matching connections will be good for him too," said Mrs Hindmarsh.

Simon Bridge, artistic director for the Dionysis Theatre Company, which is staging Oliver!, is also impressed by Thomas.

"He is bubbly, energetic and generally very talented. He's really cut out for the role."

Oliver! runs from Wednesday to Saturday, August 21 to 24, with curtain-up at 7.30pm nightly.

Tickets are available at the Gala Theatre box office, on 0191-332 4041.