STARS of the future are set to take to the stage playing a group of hopefuls when the West End musical Fame comes to Swindon this summer.

More than 500 youngsters are expected to audition for the 10th annual Wyvern Theatre Summer Youth Project show.

People between the ages of nine and 25 are invited to try out for the project, which every year stages a full-scale musical under expert tuition and supervision.

A team of dancers from last year's show West Side Story helped launch this year's production with a dance from the musical, inspired by the hit TV show and film of the same name.

Organiser Nicki Weston said: "We started 10 years ago with Bugsy Malone and it has got bigger and better ever since.

"There are people auditioning this year who started at the age of nine and have appeared in every musical we have done.

"It is always popular but I think it will be even more so with Fame we'll have parts for roughly 250 people."

Bradon Forest School pupil Chloe Little, 13, of West Swindon, said: "This will be the 5th year I have taken part, I like being up on stage.

"It's good experience and it gets you ready for the big time. I would love to be a dancer in musicals when I'm older."

Auditions will be held on Monday May 5 and applications must be received no later than Friday April 18. It costs £70 to take part in the project.

For an application form call Nicki Western on Swindon 535534.