Three pop hopefuls have been picked to go through to the grand final of the Citizen-backed Search for a Summer Star.

Kingsley Judd, ten, Katie Johnston, nine, and Lucia Conway, also nine, battled it out at Fishergate Shopping Centre yesterday for the three places in the seven to ten-year-old category of the singing contest.

Kingsley, of Penwortham, who attends Whitefield Road Primary School, Oaklands Drive, Penwortham, took first place after singing Judi Garland's, Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Tony Christie's Amarillo.

Katie, of Much Hoole, a member of Preston drama group, Imagine Productions, took second place with her renditions of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables and You're Never Fully Dressed from the musical, Annie.

Lucia, of Cottam, wowed judges with her versions of the musical showstoppers, Whistle Down the Wind and I'm Feeling Fine, from Bugsy Malone, to become the third finalist.

Kingsley said: "I've had an absolutely brilliant afternoon. I can't believe I've got through to the final."

The competition, organised by the shopping centre, in conjunction with the Citizen and Rock FM, is now in its second year.

Judges Garth Harding, part owner of Broughton Music Academy, and Barry Holden, from the Fishergate Shopping Centre, said it was a tough decision.

"It was a really tough audition for them because they don't have any backing tracks and it makes our job more difficult too," said Mr Hardy.

"There was a lot of talent here today and I think everyone enjoyed themselves."

Heats for the 11-13 category will be held at the centre on Wednesday, August 3, and 14-16-year-olds will perform on Wednesday, August 10, with the finaltaking place on August 27