A STAGE-struck student from Rossendale has made his first leap for stardom after winning a place with a top London Drama centre.

Talented Tom Newton, 16, of Crawshawbooth, will be treading the boards at the prestigious National Youth Theatre in London, having beaten more than 3,000 other would-be actors to a coveted place on the NYT summer school.

Tom, a pupil at Alder Grange High School, will join the NYT summer school in August with some 180 other young people, all hoping to find fame and fortune.

It has not been an easy term for Tom, who only this week took his final GCSE exam. As well as revising for the nine subjects he has had to find time to prepare for the NYT selection process which involved two challenging auditions and interviews.

But his hard work will be rewarded because at the centre he will be taught different stage techniques and helped to improve his acting skills.

Tom said: " It has been a wonderful year for me! I had the lead role in the school production of The Dracula Spectacular then gained a place at the NYT.

"This week I received an offer from the Shena Simon College in Manchester to do a two-year National Diploma course in Acting. I've been so lucky!" The next challenge for Tom will be raising sufficient money to enable him to take up his place because tuition and accommodation fees alone for the three week course come to over £600 and he will also need money for meals each day.

He said "I've already written begging letters to various business leaders, as well as the Arts Council and the Prince's Trust. If nothing comes of them I can see I shall have to pack lots of Pot Noodles!"

Staff at Alder Grange were delighted with Tom's success. Headteacher Iain Hulland commented: "Tom's selection is a superb testimony to his talent and to the support and encouragement he's received from family, friends and teachers, without which even the greatest talent cannot flourish."

Alder Grange High school is working closely with All Saints RC High School to support a Granada TV production of Blood Brothers which is being filmed there.

Tom is among several Alder Grange pupils involved and the fee to the school will largely to support Tom's visit to London.