A BOY inspired by Billy Elliot has been accepted at one of the country’s most prestigious dance schools.

Josh Collins, 11, is set to take weekend classes at the Hammond School in Chester after impressing tutors with his talents.

The youngster, of Livesey, Blackburn, rejected playing football with friends in favour of tap, street and ballet two years ago and enrolled at the Dance Factory in Feniscowles, where he is the only boy among 60 pupils.

And after being told by his teacher to watch hit film Billy Elliot – in which a young boy in a mining town becomes a ballet dancer – Josh has set his sights on a career in dance.

Mum Tracey, 42, said: “His dad tried to get Josh into football but he came home one day and said we had better enrol him somewhere because he wouldn’t stop dancing.

“He loves dancing all the time. He has just got the rhythm for it – he is absolutely fantastic.

“He is the only boy at the Dance Factory but he doesn’t mind at all.”

Tutors at the Dance Factory were so impressed by St Aidan's Church of England Primary School pupil Josh’s moves that they put him forward for an audition at Hammond School, which was founded in 1917.

Now he is one of just 25 rising dance stars handpicked from 160 hopefuls to start taking regular weekend lessons at the school from September.