A LEYLAND youngster will soon be a familiar face on television - even though he has never acted before in his life!

Nine-year-old Thomas Monk, of Wellfield Avenue, Leyland, was picked to star in a set of toy adverts after his auntie took him along to a showbiz agent.

The youngster's aunt, Christine, from Ingol, is a professional television extra who has been in Coronation Street and Brookside. She thought Thomas might be able to appear in a scene with her during the school holidays - but he ended up getting a starring role himself.

Christine said: "I never even dreamed that he would get something like this. He has always said he would like to do it with me, and come along one day, so I thought, why not?

"Then it just took off. The director said the camera absolutely loved him, and they would use him. He had only been with the agent since March!"

Thomas, who goes to Lever House Primary School, Farington, will now be the star of a new range of cookery toy adverts from the makers of Ready Steady Cook.

The commercials, for children's toys such as ice cream and popcorn makers, will hit the screens from July 6, between GMTV on Saturdays, and on satellite TV's Cartoon Network.

Proud mum Julie, who works in a Leyland travel agents, said: "When he went for the interview he told them one of his hobbies was cooking. That's probably why he got it.

"We are thrilled to bits - he had never done any acting before."

The advert came naturally to Thomas, who spends happy hours helping his mum in the kitchen with her cooking. His ambition is to be a chef.

He said: "I love cooking fish fingers, they're my favourite."