A LITTLE boy who was unable to speak until he was six is taking the acting world by storm and encouraging other children to chase their dreams.

Reuben Bainbridge, of Teesdale, first ventured into the industry when he was just four years old despite having severe dyslexia, dyspraxia and other developmental problems.

His mum, Mandy Bainbridge, said because her son could not speak, he used to sing to the family including dad Marcus and older brother Josh.

And it was this talent that landed the youngster his first role with CBeebies.

"He used to stammer really badly but basically, he landed the role in a CBeebies advert because they wanted a cheeky little boy singing a song and we found that when he sang he did not stammer," Mrs Bainbridge said.

Hearing of his success, Reuben's speech and language therapist advised the family to encourage his talent and it was not long before he bagged one of the top voiceover agents in London as well as an acting agent.

He also attends Applause Theatre School, in Hurworth, Darlington, while tutors are teaching him how to do an American accent over Skype.

Reuben's notable voiceover jobs have included starring as Woolly in the CBeebies show Woolly and Tig as well as the government's Change 4 Life campaign for healthy eating and adverts for Lidl.

Now 12, Reuben has starred in the Norwegian film The Forsaken and award-winning Static Stephen where he played the lead role.

And next month the youngster is due to attend the world premiere at BAFTA, in London, for his role in The Ghost - a true story of a boy's search for knowledge about who his late father was, only to find he was an international football player. Reuben plays the son's best friend Ginger and worked alongside Emilia Fox.

Listeners to Radio 4 might also recognise the youngster in his latest role as young Heathcliff in an adaptation of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights.

Mrs Bainbridge said: "We are really proud especially considering all the problems he's had. Because of his dyslexia he's had to work twice as hard."

"The acting has brought his reading on so much," she added: "It's all quite amazing and he works really hard."

Mrs Bainbridge said Reuben wanted to inspire other children to pursue their dreams.

"He's made a negative into a positive," she said. "He wants to inspire others and it's nice for other people to know he's a little lad that has done really well; he's a happy little chappy."