A 12-year-old boy with cerebral palsy took the lead role in his school’s play.

Oliver Smith, from Barnston, played his namesake in Southview Special School production of Oliver! on Friday (December 11).

He was born with the condition, which means he cannot walk or talk but Oliver was able to speak his lines through his Eye Gaze computer.

Mum Allison, who runs Smith and Co Hairdressing in Dunmow, said: “He was really excited to play Oliver. He’s been learning his lines and while having dinner he asks me ‘Sir, can I have some more?’. He’s getting the lines right at the right times.

“He did really well. It was good fun. Oliver had a whale of a time and there was an announcement to say he was the star of the show. He was very proud.

“The school has been fantastic, the headteacher Julian Cockren and the teachers have been really inclusive. Every one in the middle school has a part in it.”

She added: “You can never have too many versions of Oliver! We’ve been singing Consider Yourself to him quite a lot recently.”