A COUNTY Durham schoolboy who has been dubbed a real life Billy Elliott faces being unable to take up his place at a prestigious dance academy because he cannot afford the fees.

Ballet dancer Jay Jobarteh, who was also an under-12 world champion hip hop dancer, has only been taking classes for around two-and-a-half years and has already been accepted at The Hammond School.

Inspired by acts like Diversity, the dance group that won Britain’s Got Talent, the 13-year-old from Carrville, Durham, was initially reluctant to try ballet because of fears that he would be bullied.

But after reaching the last 32 out of more than 10,000 boys who auditioned to be Billy Elliott in the West End musical, the teenager was inspired to give ballet a go.

Jay, a pupil at Belmont Community School, said: “It’s my life. I just love to dance. If I had the opportunity to do something else I wouldn’t – I wouldn’t choose anything else. Dance is my world.”

His mother Louise Jobarteh, whose other son Tye, nine, also loves dancing, said: “It’s been hard for him because he has been picked on at school for it and he gets a lot of stick but it doesn’t put him off. I think it’s made him more determined.

“He has so much potential. He’s very talented and committed to it. He doesn’t go out with friends or go to parties because he’s dancing every day.”

She added: “It’s quite a prestigious place. It’s really hard to get in. I just wish I could magic the money up but I can’t.”

Full scholarships are only available to children entering the school aged 11 and even with the bursary he has been awarded, his family still has to find around £14,000 to cover fees.

His family is now trying to raise the money to get him to the dance school. Grandmother Julie Sanyang is organising coffee mornings and table top sales and has launched an online fundraising page.

She said: “We’re just a normal working class family.

“His life is dance. It’s given him so much confidence as well.”

To find out more visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/grandsons-dream