A young performer from Marlow has been wowing audiences in one of the West End’s most popular shows - despite only dancing for two years when he won the role.

12-year-old Matteo Zecca realised his dream of performing on the West End stage when he beat hundreds of hopefuls to win the starring role as Billy Elliot in the hit musical.

The gifted youngster, a pupil at Louise Parkes School of Dance in Marlow, got the part after taking up dancing much later than many of his rivals in a show renowned for its challenging routines.

Principal Miss Parkes said: "Matteo has a natural talent for dance and although he was reluctant at first to swap his football boots for ballet shoes, his determination to train hard together with his growing passion for dance has seen him achieve things which takes others years to do."

Billy Elliot The Musical has been showing at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London, since 2005 and has collected numerous awards in its ten-year run including an Olivier Award for Best New Musical.

Matteo has to combine his academic studies with intense training for the demanding role which requires him to act, sing, dance and perform acrobatics.

Due to the demanding schedule, three boys are selected to play Billy at any one time on a rotation basis.

As well as performing in the show each week since last September, the Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School pupil performed in the UK-wide live cinema screening of the production.

The hard working stage star appeared alongside his co-star Ruthie Henshall at the launch of the This Morning Audience Award, part of the prestigious Olivier Awards.

Prior to landing the role of Billy, Matteo also performed at the Royal Opera House in the Royal Ballet’s production of Alice In Wonderland.

He also secured a place on the Junior Associate Programme at the Royal Ballet School within a year of starting ballet lessons.