EAST Lancashire TV star Alex Bain was left speechless after winning a top soap award last night.

The Coronation Street actor took the Best Young Performance prize at the British Soap Awards for his portrayal of eight-year-old Simon Barlow.

It comes after the Blackburn boy won the Inside Soap Award for best young actor for the second year running in September.

The seven-year-old was presented with the gong by rapper Chipmunk and presenter Stephen Mulhern at the event at Granada Studios.

After being momentarily overcome, he said: “Thank you for everyone who made it possible for me to do it. I’m so happy!”

Alex made his debut on the cobbles in 2008 and has ‘captured the public’s imagination’ with his performance as Ken Barlow’s grandson, according to TV bosses.

The Griffin Park Primary School pupil went up against other talented soap kids including Maisie Smith who plays Tiffany Butcher in EastEnders, Ellis Hollins who plays Tom Cunningham in Hollyoaks, and Eden Taylor Draper, who is Belle Dingle in Emmerdale.

The young actor took the title from Ami Metcalf of daytime drama Doctors, who won the gong last year.

Alex has appeared in dance shows with the Blackburn-based Bernese School of Theatre and Dance at Thwaites Empire Theatre.

In all, Coronation Street won nine awards, including spectacular scene of the year for the tram crash which was screened to celebrate Corrie’s 50th anniversary.