Olympic: Ellis De Stefano is to perform at the Games opening ceremony despite dislocating a finger in June

A young Olympics fan has spoken of his joy after being selected to take part in the Games opening ceremony on his 12th birthday.

Ellis De Stefano, 11, is to join fellow performers from his school to create the £27million extravaganza at the Olympic Stadium on Friday.

He was so happy when he found out he ran nearly 1.5miles from All Saints in Dagenham to his home.

Ellis, of Morley Road, Chadwell Heath, said: “My family are having an opening ceremony birthday party for me and my mum’s friend is going to do an Olympic ring cake.

“I won’t be there but everyone will have fun trying to spot me on TV.”

The keen street dancer feared he may not be able to perform after he broke his left hand at Easter then dislocated a finger in June.

He is prone to accidents because he has brittle bone disease but mum Claire vowed to “wrap him in cotton wool” so he can have a great birthday to be watched around the world.

Ellis took part in auditions at his school, in Terling Road, Dagenham, at the start of this year.

He said: “I couldn’t wait to audition. A few weeks later I was given a letter to say that I’d been successful. My mum was so happy she cried.”