SUCCESS is sweet - truly scrumptious in fact, when you find yourself treading the boards in a lavish West End musical production.

Two local children Fraser Jenkins and Jessica Greenham were among 400 wannabes who queued from as early as 5am in freezing temperatures for the chance to audition for a part in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

This "fantazmagorical" show lands at Southampton Mayflower Theatre this summer during a nationwide tour starring Craig McLachlan, Alvin Stardust and Tony Adams.

Fraser, 12, from Southbourne, and Jessica, 10, from Poole joined children from across the South who flocked to the initial audition where they had to sing Truly Scrumptious.

After being recalled the very next day, they were given the lead parts of Jeremy and Jemima Potts.

Three pairs of children will share these roles during the three-month Southampton run.

St Peter's School pupil Fraser, from Bournemouth, has been attending weekly drama and singing workshops with Stagewise at Lighthouse for the last year.

Apart from singing the chorus of I Have a Dream in Abba Mania at the Lighthouse recently, Fraser has never performed on stage, apart from "a little bit at school".

His mum Kerrie said making his debut stage appearance in Chitty has, however, given him confidence and filled him with excitement.

"He is really chuffed, it's like a dream, really."

Apart from drama and singing Fraser enjoys football, karate, playing his guitar and gymnastics.

The Stagewise students clearly impressed the audition panel as six pupils made it to the last round of the auditions, with one, Alfie Clayton, seven, making it to the last seven boys, alongside Fraser.

Stage Door School of Dance and Drama in Bournemouth was also delighted to learn that pupil Jessica Greenham landed the lead role of Jemima.

Jessica, a pupil at St Mary's School, Poole, has already gained a good deal of experience performing in three professional pantomimes with fellow Stage Door pupils. Three years ago she was in Beauty and the Beast at the Lighthouse, two years ago she was Grumpy in Snow White and last year she was in Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood at the Pavilion Theatre.

Her mum Melanie said: "She just can't wait to start rehearsals in May - she is so excited."

Meanwhile Oliver Slee, 10, who attends St Thomas Garnet's School in Boscombe is thrilled to have been made understudy for the role of Jeremy in addition to being given an ensemble part.

Oliver sings with Chorpus Christi boys' choir and attends weekly drama lessons with Big Little at school.

Bournemouth's Swish of the Curtain Drama School was also successful with eight pupils being selected for the ensemble.

These include Bethany Tyler, 11, who played Annie in Swish's show at the Regent Centre, and Caroline Elphick, 10, who has been in all the Swish shows for the past five years but most recently played Tessie in Annie.

The boys include Toby Prynne, eight, who appeared in the BBC comedy series Driving Me Mad, was in the Swish production of Oliver and was recently seen in Annie as Wacky the ventrilo-quist's dummy, Santa and a Street Kid.

And Jordan Hull, eight, who recently filmed scenes for Fred Claus a new Hollywood movie to be released this year. He was also in Oliver and played a Street Kid in Annie.

Also selected was Jake Howlett, 11,who also appeared in Oliver and most recently as a street kid in Annie.

Then there is Francesca Reed, 10, Annabelle Goode, nine, and Hannah Scott, nine, who have both been in previous Swish shows and most recently played orphans in Annie.