Talented youngsters win

By goldershaw

THESE three young people have proved they have the X Factor after scooping the top places in a Chelmsford talent competition.

The trio – all vocalists – impressed the judges at the Star Talent Awards & Recognition 2008 contest run by Springfield Parish Council.

This year's winner was Alicia Rooney, 16, of Chelmsford County High School who sang It's Got To Be Perfect.

Second place went to Ben Huish, 15, a student at St John Payne School, for his rendition of Electricity from Billy Elliot; and another Girls High pupil, 16-year-old Laura Haynard, came third with the Andrew Lloyd Webber song Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again.

Organiser John Puczkowski, community development manager for Springfield Parish Council, said: "This event showcases wonderful talent in a show that encompasses the true spirit of young people and the positive contribution they have to offer within our community."

Working alongside him to put the competition together was STAR youth management events team, set up three years ago, led by young songwriter and performer Robert Jerome, a former pupil of Boswells school who now attends the famous Brit School in London.