FRIDAY night the ten finalists of the South Ribble Borough Council's Search for a Star competition will take to the stage in front of a panel of six judges.

The judges have been carefully selected and represent a cross-section of society, and includes two teenagers, a senior officer from BNFL, two council staff from South Ribble and The Citizen's news editor.

The six judges will preside over the night's event, on Friday, November 15, which will see each of the finalists hoping to be picked as South Ribble's star.

The contestants will not just sing as their idols, they will also be dressed like them too. The lucky winner will then be handed a cash prize of £200!

The youngest judge is Jessica Cross, 14, from Carleton Road, Preston. Jessica, who goes to Archbishop Temple School, St Vincent's Road, Preston, said: "It should be good. I like the chart hits, mostly R&B. Some singers at the auditions were great."

And 19-year-old Russel Mears, who works as a foreign exchange advisor in Preston, will also be on the panel.

Russel, of Hall Carr Lane, Walmer Bridge, said: "It's the first time I've done anything like this. They wanted a mixture of different ages as judges so they know different kinds of music.

"We've already judged the auditions so it's just down to performances on the night.

"They're excellent, I can't believe how good they are."

Joining Russel and Jessica on the judging panel for the big night are council employees Mandy Dickinson and Al Green, BNFL senior operations manager Dave Williams and The Preston and Leyland Citizen news editor Jane Willis.

Kind-hearted bosses at BNFL are supplying the £200 winner's cash prize.

Mr Williams, of BNFL, said: "We will be looking for quality of performance, enthusiasm and enjoyment.

"I've quite a bit of appreciation of music really, from classical right through to present day. Having a teenage family I am quite up to date with all the tunes."