EIGHT-year-old Owain Gillies really is the new kid on the block. The Huntingdonshire youngster beat more than 3,000 hopefuls to win a starring role in the latest television advert for Lego. The 40-second commercial for Lego City is being shown this week –

EIGHT-year-old Owain Gillies really is the new kid on the block.

The Huntingdonshire youngster beat more than 3,000 hopefuls to win a starring role in the latest television advert for Lego. The 40-second commercial for Lego City is being shown this week - scheduled to go out four times a day.

Owain spent a whole day filming, having to do his part against a green screen. He was then digitally shrunk down to Lego size and let loose to explore his very own Lego city.

"It was a really fun day," he said. "We got called in to the studio for the first scene and it was packed full of Lego and it had green walls and floors. It was hard acting and being in front of the lights because they made me hot. The best bit was acting even though it was hard."

Owain and nine other hopefuls spent the day at the Nickelodeon studios for an X-Factor-style audition before being chosen to star in the ad.

Laura Di Bonaventura, spokesman for Lego, said: "All the children were fantastic, it was really hard to choose but Owain really stood out.

"We could tell he was a true Lego City boy and he didn't let us down, he did a brilliant job."

Owain's mum, Julie, who works in Huntingdon for Cambridgeshire County Council's schools' advisory service, said: "Owain is potty about Lego. He saw the audition call on television and asked if he could apply on-line.

He had to send a picture and answer some questions. I told him thousands of people would apply and he shouldn't get his hopes up but I got a call the next day.

Lego City construction kits are designed so children can build their own action themed storylines with vehicles and scenes from everyday life.Picture: SUPPLIED