A YOUNG dancer has been spotted by the Royal Ballet as one of the hottest prospects in the country.
James Stephens, 10, of Millwright Close, Marsden, only started learning ballet last October.
But he has already been accepted to dance with the Junior Associates of the Royal Ballet in Leeds.
And he is tipped to be a real-life Billy Elliot - just like in the film!.
Huddersfield Grammar School student James was one of 20 youngsters picked from more than 200 hopefuls.
Mum Lesley, 40, and dad Tony, 42, who own three coffee shops in Liverpool, are delighted that James has found something he is good at that he really enjoys.
Lesley said: "When we got the letter saying he was in I was so pleased I just cried.
"It is a discipline and James works really hard at getting it right," she added.
"He has been dancing for some time now and started doing classes at school, before going to a dance school in the evenings, as well.
"This could mean that he will go on to join the Royal Ballet. But that is a long way off yet and we will cross that bridge when we come to it."
James's ballet teacher, Bernadette Heys, 48, of Marsden, who has run her school of theatre dance for 27 years, saw the talent straight away. She believes James is a natural.
She said: "He is a really exciting talent.
"We are all very proud of him and what he has achieved already."
James, whose brother Jos, 11, is a talented gymnast, will start dancing with the Junior Associates in September.
