CHILD star Paddy Carroll has hit the big time in a very small role.

The 10-year-old from West Ashton is playing Tiny Tim in the Northern Ballet Company's production of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol at the Theatre Royal, Bath.

The Leeds-based touring group needed a local boy for the five-night run the main qualities being a good singing voice and a height of less than 4ft 2in.

Paddy already has plenty of stage experience. He trod the boards as Buttons in Cinderella and played the title role in Jack and the Beanstalk. However this is his first professional engagement he will get the princely sum of £5 for each performance, which his mum, Sally Carroll, has said he'll be allowed to keep for himself.

Paddy practised his two solos How Far is it to Bethlehem? and A Great and Mighty Wonder all term but only started rehearsals with the rest of the cast a few days before Tuesday's opening night.

His costume was also a mystery to him as until he landed the role he had no idea what leg braces worn by the young invalid character were.

Mrs Carroll said: "He's used to small crowds, but this has been different."