A BARRY schoolboy has won a leading role in a hit musical.

After queuing up in the rain waiting to audition for five hours, eight-year-old Jay Ruckley was eventually chosen to play Jeremy in the imminent production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Bristol Hippodrome.

And this is not the first time the All Saints Church in Wales School pupil has taken centre stage - the youngster starred as Tiny Tim in the Wales Theatre Company's recent production of A Christmas Carol.

Jay's mum Faye, of Porth Y Castell, said: "Jay has really surprised us!

"He hasn't been to stage school so he must be a bit of a natural!

"I'm really excited for him. My brother saw the show in London and said it was brilliant, especially as the car really flies.

"It's going to be a bit of work chauffeuring him back and forth, but I don't mind. It's just like taking him back and forth to tennis."

Jay's rehearsals will be gruelling - but his school is sending him work, and he will receive tutoring.

Faye said that she is not sure whether Jay will have a career in performing.

"Ultimately I'd like him to go to university," she said.

"But we'll just have to see what happens. I'm not a pushy mum, and I'll leave him to make up his own mind."

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will run at the Hippodrome from March 9 until June 9 2007.