A LEYLAND actor is starring in the hit musical Starlight Express which opened on Monday in Manchester at the start of a year-long UK tour.

The musical, written by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, ran in London's West End for 12 years until 2002. It is due to show at the Opera House, Manchester, for five weeks.

Starlight is a futuristic musical production that sees all characters don roller skates in a tale of love and hope.

Gavin Ashburry, 28, who plays a leading role as Dustin, grew up in Leyland and still considers the town his home.

He says his passion for acting was ignited by his chemistry teacher, Wynn Tag, at his former Wellfield High, Yewlands Drive, when he was 14 years old.

He said: "It all started at school with a performance called the Alternative Curriculum Show, and I have never looked back from there really.

"I joined the St Ambrose players and did panto with them, Aladdin and Anything Goes."

"But it's great to be performing so close to home," he added. "Starlight is such a breath-taking and captivating show.

"Leyland is very much still my home, I come back when I want to get away from everything."

His parents Marion and Steve still live at the family home in Claughton Avenue, Leyland, where he grew up.

After leaving Wellfield, Gavin spent two years studying for a BTEC in performing arts at Blackpool and the Flyde College, before studying drama at Mount View, an arts school in London, where he graduated in 1997.