WACKO Jacko has a rival in Warrington dancer Dean Clarke.

Dressed to thrill and with a startling resemblance to his megastar hero, the 32-year-old has a growing fan club after wowing audiences in an amateur production of Sleeping Beauty.

Dean, of Woolston, owes his new-found fame to Diana, Princess of Wales. Her death last year inspired Dean to do something for others.

His big break came when he joined the Birchwood Amateur Dramatic Society.

Dean, who had trained as a dancer, took part in a Michael Jackson dance routine alongside mini-mover Oliver Ormson.

The pair brought the house down and Dean discovered a very special talent imitating his idol.

Now, he is willing to use that talent to raise money for charity.

"I was always a fan of the Jacksons and have been to see Michael Jackson in concert.

"To me, what he does is pure entertainment. He's a showman and that's what I'm interested in - entertaining people.

"I'm amazed at the reaction I've had. After the panto, children were shouting Michael Jackson at me.

"BADS isn't like any other amateur group - there wasn't a part for me, but I was allowed to create one.

"Now, as long as it is for charity, I'm willing to dress up and make myself available. It's a way of carrying on Diana's work."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.