A Lego-mad schoolboy is set to become the face of a new advertising campaign for the toy building brick company.

Ryan Ruane, from Eynsham, is only eight years old but was picked out of 6,000 children nationwide to front a commercial going out this month to promote Lego in the run-up to Christmas.

The TV slot starts on October 20 on the toy and games channel Nickelodeon — commonly known as Nick — for children aged six to 12.

His mother, Jeanette, of Blankstone Road, said: "I am so proud of him.

"He was a natural, which is strange because he has never had any acting experience and even said he did not want to be in the school play last year."

Ryan entered a competition saying he was a "Lego Lunatic" and went for an audition with 19 other children, who were shortlisted down to five.

He will shoot the advert with a boy from Liverpool at Camden Studios in London.

His bedroom at home is full of Lego kit, including cars and his favourite Star Wars models.

But Ryan, who attends Eynsham Primary School, has not let his new-found fame go to his head.

The youngster shunned the possibility of becoming a celebrity and said he would prefer to work with a different sort of 'star' when he grows up.

He said: "I want to be an astronaut when I leave school.

"I don't want to be famous. I do not even know how to sign an autograph.

"I think I won because I wrote on my application form that I was a 'Lego Lunatic' because we have just been learning about alliteration at school.

"I really liked going to the studios and playing with the Lego. And I loved dressing up as different characters.

"I am very, very excited to be in the adverts, but I do not mind if I am not on TV again."

Mrs Ruane said: "He spends all his pocket money on Lego.

"As soon as he gets home from school, he goes straight to his bedroom to create things.

"The filming day was great fun for him too.

"He made firm friends with the other little boy in the advert.

"They email back and forth and write letters to each other.

"Everyone is really happy for him.

"It's so sweet."