A young man from Rossendale has been awarded a place at one of London’s most prestigious performing arts schools.

Cameron Rhodes, from Waterfoot, was chosen from more than 3000 candidates who auditioned for a coveted spot at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.

The former Fearns student will start his three year BA (Hons) Degree in Performance – Musical Theatre, on 21 September.

He joins an institution whose star-studded alumni include Twiggy, Amanda Holden, Happy Valley’s Mina Anwar, Corrie’s Sally Dynevor and The Hobbit actor, Ken Stott.

Mr Rhodes said: “I didn’t believe it at first when I got offered the place. I was so used to people saying no that it was just a shock.

“There were 3000 people who auditioned and only 38 places, and I went through three rounds of auditions before being told I’d got in.

“It’s been my dream for the last six years to get into drama school as I’d love to perform in the West End."

The 20-year-old, who has performed with Rossendale Dance and Drama Centre, has just spent the last two years studying at another reputable theatre college, the Emil Dale Academy in Hitchin, where he achieved a BTEC in Performing Arts.

Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, whose current president is Dame Judi Dench, costs £14,000 a year to attend.

And Mr Rhodes mother, Stephanie Rhodes, said it’s been a struggle trying to find the money to pay for her son’s studies.

She said: “Cameron has made us really proud, but it’s been so hard trying to raise the funds to pay for it all.

“He started working at McDonald’s when he was 16 in order to start saving up, but it’s not just the fees we have to pay for, it’s his living costs while he’s in London too, which are really expensive.”

Mr Rhodes received a Dance and Drama Award from the school which means a percentage of his fees will be paid for by the academy.

However, he still needs to find an extra £6000 to pay the for the remaining fees and more than £30,000 to fund his accommodation for the three years he'll be in London.

Mrs Rhodes said: “He almost passed up on the opportunity because of the money, but we said he had to do it as it’s been his dream and he’s worked so hard to get that place.

“We applied to a charity called Realising Dreams to help raise some money and they’ve provided us with a £1,770 but there’s still a lot more to raise.”

Realising Dreams is a foundation that supports young people with a talent, drive and ambition who haven’t been able to realise their dreams because of a lack of funding or support from other charities.

Mr Rhodes has written to businesses in East Lancashire to ask for sponsorship to help fund his time at the academy.

He has also set up a Go Fund Me page in the hope that he can raise enough cash to allow him to fulfil his dreams.

He said: "Playing Edna in Hairspray would be my dream role!”

To donate and help Mr Rhodes get to Mountview, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/get-cameron-to-mountview