A TEENAGE actor who starred as a young version of comedian Johnny Vegas beat thousands of hopefuls to land a theatre school place.

Thomas Mills, aged 16, who lives in Four Lane Ends, was one of 4,100 youngsters from across the country who applied for the National Youth Theatre's summer school.

A total of 560 people have been chosen to spend two weeks at the theatre in London in August.

The former Bolton School pupil said: "It's learning new skills and things about theatre and it will be good to just work with professionals and really get a grasp of theatre life.

"I had to go for an audition for the day.

"I was over the moon. I can't wait to get started.

"I think they will just make us do all different aspects of theatre.

"I think we will have to do stuff to really challenge us that we haven't done before.

"I can't wait for it."

Thomas caught the acting bug appearing in productions at school and at Carol Godby Theatre Workshop, which he started attending at the age of 11.

As well as a passion for theatre, he has also appeared in a number of television programmes and also does voiceovers including on French cartoon, The Crumpets, CITV's Thunderbirds and Dinosaur Train on Nick Jr.

Thomas, who studies performing arts at Winstanley College, said: "I have already done quite a few things on TV.

"The biggest one that I have done, I played a young Johnny Vegas in Sky 1's Little Crackers.

"He was so funny and he was really nice."

The National Youth Theatre (NYT) was the first youth theatre in the world and has been showcasing young acting talent for the past 58 years.

Its courses have helped nurture some of the finest British talent including Orlando Bloom, Hugh Bonneville, Daniel Craig, Daniel Day-Lewis, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jeremy Irvine, Sir Derek Jacobi, Dame Helen Mirren, Matt Smith and Catherine Tate.