The Railway Children Return stars Thomas Flynn from Lymm

Thomas Flynn, from Lymm, plays Pox in the sequel to the beloved film which is playing in cinemas in the UK now and is about to be released in the US/

The 13-year-old joined Small Screen Talent about four years ago, simply to build his confidence.

But founder Ross Adams, best known for Hollyoaks, found Thomas had a wealth of natural talent.

After a lot of near misses, this will be the Lymm High student's first screen role.

Ross said: "We regularly get breakdowns from different production companies of the kind of people they are looking to cast.

"This opportunity came through and it just seemed really exciting because it was a big production, they were filming in the north and they were looking for lots of young northern actors."

Lymm actor Thomas Flynn

Thomas's mum Heather added: "Thomas did a brilliant take and we sent it off but we came to the conclusion he’d not got anywhere with it because we’d not heard back."

But six weeks later Thomas was invited for a further audition process on Zoom.

Ross said: "So he did that and then we found out he’d been offered the part. It was just amazing."

Thomas was on set for a number of days last year and we spoke to him the day before his first scenes were due to be shot.

He added: "I’m very excited. My friends are happy to have a friend who is famous. I've already been on set for a costume fitting and the people doing that were really nice. I like my character’s glasses and I want to keep them.

"I’m looking forward to meeting the stars. My head of year wants me to get Sheridan Smith’s autograph for them."

Directed by Morgan Matthews and written by Danny Brocklehurst – who have both won BAFTA awards – the sequel to the classic film takes audiences on a heartwarming journey, in which a group of children are evacuated to a Yorkshire village during the Second World War, where they encounter a young soldier, who like them, is far away from home.

Undated film still handout from The Railway Children Return. Pictured: Eden Hamilton as Pattie, Austin Haynes as Thomas, Sheridan Smith as Annie, Sir Tom Courtenay, Jenny Agutter as Bobbie Waterbury, Beau Gadsdon as Lily and Zac Cudby as Ted. PA Feature

Thomas, who attended Ravenbank Primary School, found out he got the part after he came home from playing football to find his mum crying.

Heather added: "I broke down. It’s his first job. He had quite a few auditions where he was asked to do a recall but he’s never got the job.

"So when I got told I had a bit of a cry. I’m dead proud as he’s worked really hard for this.

"Joining Small Screen Talent started off as a confidence booster – and it really helped with that – and then we discovered Thomas had a lot of talent."

Ross set up an acting academy and agency for young actors in 2016.

He said: "Creating these opportunities for young people like Thomas is an amazing feeling for us

"I grew up in a mining village in the north east and I knew I wanted to act and work in TV but there were just no opportunities for that where I lived.

"Since then I’ve always wanted to make it easier for other young people who wanted to get into the industry and so when I joined the cast of Hollyoaks in 2015 I thought this is my chance to do something.

Thomas went to Ravenbank Primary School in Lymm

"It was to give something back in a way as I remember how hard it was for me to get where I wanted to be.

"On our first week we just had five students and now we have two academies.

"As soon as Thomas joined we knew there was something special about him.

"He has a really good sense of humour and his quirky, comedy side often comes out in the drama pieces we do.

"It’s been tough for us as we’ve been him forward for lots of different jobs and for various reasons it hasn’t worked out.

"But we’ve never lost hope and what a first job to get with Sheridan Smith and Jenny Agutter and all of those amazing people.

"The process builds resilience and self confidence and Thomas now has that in spades.

"With this audition process he was up against students from big drama schools

"Thomas just does an hour and a half in class with us each week and he won this role over them so we are incredibly proud of him."

Heather added: "Thomas's head teacher and head of year have been really supportive. I think they’re really excited as well.

"Ross has been incredible. He’s always believed in Thomas and he’s a great mentor for him to look up to."

The 13-year-old is in the new Railway Children