A TALENTED schoolboy could be priced out of attending an exclusive school because of extortionate railway fares, his mother has revealed.

Ben Lewis attends Sylvia Young in London, a specialist theatre school he was awarded a full scholarship to attend last year.

But 14-year-old Ben, who has starred in productions like Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, will need to have an adult train ticket to Paddington when he hits the age of 16.

His mother Clare McNally said it would be extremely difficult to pay the roughly £4,000 fee and has launched a petition to have the law changed.

She said: "As a single parent on a low income this was an amazing opportunity for my son as there was no way I could afford to send him to a fee paying school without this financial assistance.

"We live very close to a train station and his school is walking distance from Paddington therefore, the train is the best mode of transport for him to get to school.

"When he turns 16 in March 2019 he will be expected to pay the adult fare which more than doubles the cost, making it completely impossible for me to afford."

Ms McNally, 38, has called for a change in the law so that children in full-time education can still pay child train fares.

Her plea for help has so far fetched more than 1,000 signatures.

The Tilehurst resident continued: "I really don't understand why they are classed as adults at 16 on public transport, yet in the eyes of the law a child doesn't become and adult until the age of 18. They are unable to vote or buy alcohol and if they committed a crime they would be tried as a child.

"With the change in law stating that children have to stay in some form of education until 18 I firmly believe that if they are using public transport to get to school/college then they should only be charged a child's price to do so.

"They are not yet in full time employment therefore not earning a full time salary yet are expected (or their parents are) to find the extra funds to enable them to finish their education."

To sign the petition, visit: http://bit.ly/2jGcBM3