A TALENTED Ledbury man who swapped ballet for beatboxing has reached a national final.

Dave Crowe will compete for the Vauxhall UK Beatbox Championship title at the O2 Academy in London.

The 24-year-old earned his place by finishing second in last month’s northern final in the Stanley Theatre, Liverpool.

“Crowe” is one of the UK’s most talented beatboxers and has laid down beats for street audiences around the world.

He impressed judges on Britain’s Got Talent in 2008 while youtube has dozens of videos featuring his vocal percussion performances.

The former John Masefield High School student also attended Hereford College of Arts and joined the 2Faced Youth Dance Company.

He later attended the Northern School of Dance in Leeds but pursued beatboxing – making drum-like and other noises with his voice – after injuring himself through ballet.

His mother, Ledbury High Street trader Annette Crowe, said she was proud of Dave but admitted finding it funny at first.

“I think it’s amazing, but when he was making all these noises around the kitchen it was a bit different,” said Mrs Crowe.

“He’s been everywhere and there’s even going to be a documentary crew filming him around Europe this summer.”

Crowe now lives in Gothenburg, Sweden, with his partner, and will claim a £14,500 Vauxhall Corsa if he wins the title in June.