A BURNHAM-on-Sea teenager is appealing for help from his community to make his dreams of being a West End performer come true.

Benjamin Kempton, 16, from Burnham-on-Sea recently finished his GCSE exams at King Alfred's School and was lucky enough to be offered a two year scholarship for the Emildale Performing Arts Academy in Surrey.

The talented teen was among 2,700 performers who auditioned for a place at the prestigious performing arts college and said he couldn't believe it when he found out he had been successful.

"I actually went and applied for the place myself a few weeks ago without telling anyone as I wasn't sure whether I would even get interviewed.

"I got a call inviting me in for an interview and then decided to tell someone, I told my sister about it and my parents just a few days before I was due to go" he said.

"After going to the interview, I didn't know whether I was going to get in and about a week later I received a black box and gold letter in the post, it looked like something out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

"I was so thrilled when I opened it to find out I had been given a full scholarship and a place at the school.

"I was absolutely amazed, I was so happy as this is something I have always loved doing."

Ben is now looking for companies in and around Burnham-on-Sea to donate money so he can afford his accommodation in return for a performance at one of their events over the next two years.

"The scholarship I have only covers the cost of my tuition fees and so I have to make sure I can pay for my accommodation.

"I do a lot of performing already at the holiday parks in the area and have a part time job but I need to raise around £8,000 to afford my accommodation for my course" he said.

"I am not entitled to any support from the government and have to raise this money off my own back.

"I am asking businesses in the area to donate money to me and in return I will sing and entertain at one of their company functions over the next two years in between my studies.

"It would mean such a lot to me if I can afford to go as this is something I have always wanted to do."

For more information or to donate call Ben on 07874223850.