'Billy Elliot' grants for gifted

gifted children will be funded to attend music and dance classes in a government scheme to nurture talent, ministers said today.

The aim is to help youngsters like Billy Elliot, the film character who left his pit village for a London ballet school.

But the government scheme will offer classes in Leeds and Gateshead as well as in the capital, so that pupils can train close to home.

It will be aimed at children who want to become professional musicians or dancers. This autumn, 200 will be selected by audition to receive grants from £600 to £3,000 a year, funded by the taxpayer.

To be eligible they will have to attend state schools and come from families earning less than £50,000 a year. The full sum will only go to families on less than £25,000 a year.

Announcing the initiative at a music conference at the Purcell School in Hertfordshire, school standards minister David Miliband said: "We all remember the character of Billy Elliot leaving his home town to train in London.

"I want to extend these opportunities to children similar to the character of Billy so they can enjoy the benefit of excellent training but still go to their local school."

The scheme in the capital will operate at London Contemporary Dance School.