Watch: Schoolboy becomes voice of Thomas the Tank Engine

A 13-year-old boy said his audition for the role of Thomas the Tank Engine took only four minutes to film in his living room.

Harry Sparkes has landed his voice-acting debut in Thomas & Friends: Railway Stories, a new animated series set to be released next month.

Appearing on BBC Look East, Sparkes, from Harpenden in Hertfordshire, said it felt "crazy" to hear himself in the role of Thomas.

For nine months, he kept his weekly recording sessions secret from his classmates by telling them he was attending physiotherapy for a foot injury.

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Vets remove a garden lantern from a fox's head.

Watch: Vets remove garden lantern from fox's head

A charity warns people to check their gardens for "anything that could trap or injure curious wildlife".

Beds, Herts & Bucks

A man is topless inside a house which is dimly lit. He has long dark hair and a dark haired-goatee beard.

Moment county lines drug dealer arrested in the night

Police say the sentences will have a significant effect on the drug supply in Hertfordshire.

Beds, Herts & Bucks

Aerial pictures show bungalow explosion wreckage

The property is left in ruins after the incident, believed to have been caused by a gas leak.

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Bungalow destroyed in explosion captured on camera

Footage also shows the home burning after the explosion, thought to have been caused by a gas leak.

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Police officer's hand hailing a lift from a black van.

Watch: Officer hitches a ride in van to chase suspect

Bodycam footage shows a policeman asking for a lift from a member of the public during a pursuit.

Beds, Herts & Bucks

Man spraying an police officer in the face.

Policewoman pepper-sprayed by suspect in bodycam video

Footage shows the policewoman being attacked with a kind of pepper spray at a front door.

Beds, Herts & Bucks

Hidden 'cub cam' shows first days of newborn lions

Their mum has been "so attentive, making sure her cubs are fed, clean and comfortable", a zoo says.

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A composite image of a woman, with her face blurred, and a bedroom

Watch: 'My flat was turned into a brothel,' landlord tells BBC Panorama

A Panorama investigation uncovers how organised gangs are exploiting the UK's private rental market.

Beds, Herts & Bucks

Three cheetahs sitting down in grass looking towards the camera. The one in the middle appears to be an adolescent or adult, and either side of them are small cubs.

Seven cheetah cubs filmed exploring for first time

The cubs are seen zooming up and down their paddock and play-fighting with their siblings.

Beds, Herts & Bucks

A group of fans sit on picnic tables underneath a white marquee with bunting of the England St George's cross. The fans are cheering in celebration at a goal. They are all wearing white England football shirts.

England fans stay up all night in Aylesbury

Beds, Herts & Bucks

Watch: Mystery crab invasion 50 miles from the sea

Not even an expert has been able to say for sure how they ended up in a town so far from the coast.

Beds, Herts & Bucks

Police body camera footage of man hiding underneath a duvet with a yellow shopping bag on his head. An arm is reaching down to pull the bag off him.

Watch: Man hides in shopping bag to evade shoplifting arrest

Watch the moment police found a man attempting to hide from an officer by putting a bag on his head.

Beds, Herts & Bucks

The end of a train carriage which has been damaged is attached to a crane

Watch: Aerial footage shows train wreckage removal

The two trains involved in a fatal crash last Friday have been removed from the tracks by crane.

Beds, Herts & Bucks

A teenage boy stands in the centre of the frame staring directly at the camera. He is wearing a black shirt and has blonde hair. Behind him are rows of gaming computers, glowing with a range of coloured lights. There are students in chairs playing games on these computers.

The students studying esports for a BTec

Marketing, nutrition and video editing, there is apparently more to esports than being good at games.

Beds, Herts & Bucks

Left, the train involved. Right, BBC reporter Jo Black.

Watch: What we know about the Bedford train crash

A train driver dies and 100 people are injured in the crash on Friday.

Beds, Herts & Bucks

Two small cheetah cubs sitting in a pile of straw with their mouths open.

Watch: Seven cheetah cubs born at Whipsnade Zoo

The cubs are the first to be born at the conservation zoo for 15 years.

Beds, Herts & Bucks

The field that became a travellers' site over a weekend

Aerial pictures show caravans on newly built pitches near an existing site at the edge of a village.

Beds, Herts & Bucks

In full: Myles Smith plays impromptu hometown gig

The 28-year-old played hits including Stargazing and Drive Safe in St George's Square, Luton.

Beds, Herts & Bucks

A close up of a small black-and-rufous sengi, also known as an elephant shrew. It is standing on a forest floor covered with dry leaves and twigs.

Zoo celebrates birth of second pair of Sengi pups

It says Nuru and Mela are proving to be "exceptional parents".

Beds, Herts & Bucks

Baby elephant plays ball in time for World Cup

It is seen playing with a ball in his enclosure, only two days after his arrival.

Beds, Herts & Bucks