A mum is fighting to ensure her son can follow his ballet dreams.
Jane Roberts' son William took up ballet and tap lessons when he was around six years old.
Jane, 42, told CheshireLive that William had always been a 'little mover' and he it was clear to see that her son 'had something extra'.
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William, now 13, attended various performing arts schools in Lancaster before a teacher suggested he try to be accepted into The Hammond, a Chester -based performing arts school.
Jane and William moved to Ellesmere Port so he could attend the prestigious school, with the teen now receiving an opportunity to gain more experience with trips to various prestigious ballet schools.
Speaking to CheshireLive, she said: "He has always been a little mover, since he was tiny. He'd hear music and would be moving, so it gave me the idea that I should get him into dance because it was so natural with him.
"I did try when he was three or four, but he would just cry. I couldn't leave him. I gave it a break and then at around six or seven he started taking ballet lessons and he did tap as well."
She said: "So he had various schools, and I could just tell that he had something extra, so I wanted to find him a really good school that would bring his potential out, so he went to Rigney Bank School in Milnthorpe, just over the border from Lancaster.
"It was his teacher there that suggested William go for the Hammond. I am completely naïve to all this, it's not been a plan, it's all just natural."
Jane, who is studying a social psychology course part time at the Open University, said the ballet world is 'tough' and that it helps to have financial backing, something she feels she can't provide for William.
"So we've got to this point now. I've learnt so much since we've started. It isn't a simple case of you go to a vocational school and then that's it. It's a tougher world than that, the ballet world.
"You see the wealthiest with their children and everything they do, and I can't provide that for William. It's a constant worry for me because I don't want his talent to be left behind because I can't afford the things that he needs.
"It is difficult going to a school like that from his and my background. I'm a single mum, and most of them are two parents together, working parents, it is hard, you know."
The 13-year-old has been accepted onto the Masters of Ballet Easter Course in April, which doesn't include travel and accommodation. He has also been invited to spend three days at Kings International Ballet School in Leicester this month.
Jane said she is struggling to find the money to get him there and a hotel, but she doesn't want her son to miss out because of his family's financial situation, so she has set up a GoFundMe page to help William.
She said: "Once he hits 16, he'll have to go to a ballet college. If you want to specialise in ballet you really need to get out there and be seen by people.
"If you're not in the world it seems really small, but when you're in the world you realise you need to put yourself out there to be seen and noticed.
"He is special. He has got an amazing talent. He's so humble as well. He doesn't push himself to the front in class. He's such a lovely boy, so I sort of have to be behind him helping him push himself along."
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