A DARLINGTON youngster has successfully danced his way to a place with the Royal Ballet School.

Nine-year-old James Forster, of The Fairway, has been dancing since he was just five-years-old and recently passed an audition for the internationally-renowned school.

He will start his course in September and his mother Vicky Read is delighted with his achievement.

She said: ?I am ecstatic, I have always believed in James because he has worked very hard for this.

?I am a very proud mum and James is over the moon, he is beaming with excitement.

?All of his friends are being really supportive, and because the classes run once a week in Newcastle, he will not have to leave school.?

Ms Read added that although dance is ?within James?, he is still too young to know whether he wants to pursue it as a future profession.

Royal Ballet School graduates include Strictly Come Dancing?s Darcey Bussell and dancer Wayne Sleep and Ms Read said that people have made comparisons between James and the fictitious North-East dancer Billy Elliot.

James has already taken part in various dance competitions and is a member of the Rachel Coad School of dance in Victoria Road.