Search for Bristol's junior stars at an end

The stage is ready for Sunday night's glittering final of Bristol's 2008 Junior Search for a Star competition.

Fifteen of the South West's most talented youngsters will sing their best at Keynsham's Fry Club to try to convince the judges to award them the title.

The finalists have been chosen from three heats, and this weekend will give it their all in front of a sold-out audience of hundreds.

With Junior Search for a Star in its 15th year, organiser Deb Dyer said this year's competitors are among the best she has ever seen.

"I have been running this competition for a long time now, and the youngsters this year have all been superb," she said.

"Each and every one of them has worked really hard and given it their all, and the 15 who got through to the final are all extremely talented.

"We have seen a huge array of talent, from stilt-walking dancers and musicians to children singing reggae, songs from musicals and modern pop songs.

"Events like Search for a Star really bring out the best in young people, and performing on stage in front of such a big crowd can give them huge amounts of confidence.

"Seeing previous winners like Marisa Billitteri do so well in the junior competition, go on to win the senior competition and then reach the finals of X Factor with Girlband just goes to show the South West is capable of producing really talented performers.

"I am sure that if our 15 young finalists put their hearts into it and work hard in the future they too can go on to be equally successful.

"It will be great for them to perform in front of so many of their friends and family."

Sunday's final starts at 7pm.

In heat one are George Tanner, 13, from Little Stoke; Abbie Britton, 13, from Bridgeygate; Louise Bull, 13, from St Andrews and Chantelle Revill, from Horfield.

Heat two is made up by Stacey Hunt, 8, from Barrs Court; Christie Bryant, 13, from Downend; Ella Arnold, 11, from Barrs Court, Bailey Kerley, 11, from Hengrove and Lynsay Cooper, 12, from Bedchester, Dorset.

And in heat three are Georgie Taylor, 12, from Kingswood in Bristol; Kaisha Baldie, 9, from St George; Rosie Southern, 13, from Backwell; Oliver Harper, 12, from Norton Malreward near Chew Magna; Jessie Carter, 12, from Redland, and AOA Connection – who are sisters Alisha, 13, and Osheanna Stephenson, 9, from Brentry and Amantia Mehmeti, 13, from Lawrence Weston.