A BARNSLEY ballet dancer has secured a spot on a prestigious summer ballet boarding school programme - and was one of just 20 dancers nationwide offered a space.

Huw Hyde, 13, was selected through a competitive audition process which saw the National Youth Ballet auditioning across the whole of the UK for the first quarter of the year.

He was selected to join its residential programme for dancers between the ages of 13 and 16 which will see him move to Elmhurst Ballet Boarding School, in Birmingham, for a course over the summer to further his training.

Huw, of Wood Walk, Wombwell, has been dancing since he was five years old and trains with Cast Academy in Wath as his local school.

However, he is also a student at Northern Ballet, Leeds, and trains with the elite ballet development programme Project Resurgence in Bradford.

Mum Nicola said: “He is extremely focused and dedicated and is most definitely the driving force behind all his training.

“We do often say to him are you sure you want to keep doing this and he absolutely never wavers.

“To be offered a place on this programme is such a fabulous achievement and we are so proud of him.

“There are not many opportunities for ballet in Barnsley.

“We have a wonderful network of supportive friends and dancer teachers and will always be grateful for their support.”