TWINKLE-toed 10-year-old Rhys Yeomans could be set for stardom in London's West End.

Rhys, from Chadderton near Oldham, has won through three regional auditions for the lead role in a new stage production of Billy Elliot.

The Hulme Grammar School pupil - who only started formal dance training 18 months ago - now plans to dazzle the producers in a final audition in London.

"He just loves performing," said mum Joanne. "He takes it all in his stride."

Rhys was advised to audition for the role in Billy Elliot - the story of a boy from a mining family in the north east who becomes a ballet star - after being told he was too tall for the part of Tiny Tim in Scrooge.

He finished in the top four of 250 boys at his first audition, but he was told to improve his dancing.

Rhys joined Centrepointe Dance Academy, in Manchester - which his mum said had seen his performances come on in leaps and bounds.

Last month, he auditioned again and won a place in the national finals.

If he scoops the main role he will take up a place in the Billy Elliot academy in Leeds, which takes two years to train future stars for the West End stage.

Joanne added: "He has been dancing and singing since he was two.

"He's never been into football, although he likes it, so I thought we should channel his passion into something he loves doing."

Rhys shares his mum's love of musicals but is also interested in becoming a pop star - he wants to be discovered by Simon Cowell and become the next Justin Timberlake.

"People are always telling him to audition for the `X-Factor', `Pop Idol' or `Britain's Got Talent', but he doesn't want to yet," Joanne added. "I'm not one of those pushy mums, I'll let him do it in his own time."