A BUDDING Blackburn actor has secured his first professional acting job in the national tour of Lord of the Flies.

James Walsh, whose family home is in Northbank Avenue, Blackburn, was taken on by the Yorkshire-based theatre company 'Pilot Theatre' after completing his drama degree.

James, 21, who uses the stage name James Andrews, highlighted the problem drama students face to make it big as they struggle to afford the fees of the country's top drama schools when he battled to raise funds back in 2000.

He was offered a scholarship from London-based, Arts Education Drama School which boasts such ex-pupils as Martin Clunes and Full Monty star Hugo Spear.

The scholarship meant he had £7,000 of his £8,000 fees paid for, before completing his studies with an honours degree in acting.

James, now living in Ealing, London, was one of eight performers from 900 applicants who applied for the six-month theatre tour opening in September.

He said: "It just shows it can be done. Young actors are always being told that it will be tough and we may not get to do what we want all of the time and so when I heard this it was brilliant.

"I feel really lucky because we were almost trained to believe that this is not a reliable career.

"To have the next six months secure so soon is amazing."

James has been turning down auditions to attend rehearsals which begin at York Theatre Royal on August 23, under the direction of Marcus Romer, before opening at Wakefield Theatre Royal.

William Golding's novel, Lord of the Flies tells the tale of a group of adolescent schoolboys battling against the elements, and each other, for survival and ultimate supremacy.

The show will then tour Dublin, Belfast, Leeds, York, Crawley and Manchester.

James, a former pupil at St Wilfrids's CE High School, Blackburn, said: "It is important to have a good relationship with an agent as well and it shows it works when you work hard together."

After the tour James said his ambition is to appear on TV shows Casualty or Holby City after watching them as a child.

He said: "I would also love to go to the West End. That is my ultimate dream."