Katie, 9, scoops fame top prize
Shropshire youngster Katie Young has taken her first steps on the road to musical stardom after winning a place at the county's "fame academy".
The nine-year-old, from Bomere Heath, near Shrewsbury, beat dozens of other county hopefuls in our weekend talent search to land a year's scholarship at the Stagecoach Telford Theatre School.
She wowed the judges at our Sunday auditions with a performance of the Hilary Duff tune Wake Up - complete with dance moves - to take the top prize, which is worth nearly £900.
Judges were so impressed by the standard of our entries that they also handed out four runners-up prizes of a term's free tuition at Stagecoach, worth nearly £300.
They go to Rachel Carrington, 15, from Sundorne in Shrewsbury, Louis Coupe, 10, from Priorslee in Telford, Melissa Pugh, 14, from Bratton in Telford, and 16-year-old Lucy Llewellyn, from Bridgnorth.
Katie's mum Denise said: "She's absolutely delighted, and we can't believe it. We didn't really expect her to win the competition, and just entered her in it to get a bit of experience.
"But Katie has always been into singing and dancing, and everyone has said that she's got something about her - an X factor.
"And she's no stranger to being up on stage - she already goes to a drama group in Shrewsbury and has appeared in a performance of Oliver! at the Music Hall."
More than 50 hopefuls aged between six and 16 took part in Sunday's auditions at New College in Telford.
Stagecoach principal Ian Billings said: "There is some excellent talent in Shropshire and it was hard for us to reach a decision. That's one of the reasons why we eventually awarded four runners-up prizes, instead of the intended two."
He added: "I was delighted with the wide array of talent at the auditions, from all over the county.
"We're looking forward to seeing Katie, who is joining our morning school for the first time tomorrow."
You can watch the video of Katie's winning audition by clicking here.
By Carl Jones
