THE pressure is mounting in this year's Pub Idol – with the victor of the latest heat tipped to win the entire competition.

University student Emily Childs, 19 of Alkborough, stormed to first place in Monday's heat, held at The Royal Hotel in Scunthorpe.

But there were a string of standout performances in the latest heat of The Scunthorpe Telegraph's competition to find a singing sensation

Ian McLane, compere on the night, said: "She won by an absolute landslide.

"The judges were unanimous – she had an awful lot of perfect tens and the lowest score was an eight."

Emily stunned the Pub Idol judges with a rendition of Send In The Clowns, made famous in the musical A Little Night Music.

She also performed the Judy Garland hit, The Man That Got Away.

Petrol station manager Ralph Toppin, 37 of Epworth, clinched second place.

He was one of last year's finalists, and was hoping songs from Bette Midler and The Temptations would have been enough to get him through to the next round.

Ralph opted to sing My Girl and Wind Beneath My Wings.

Rebecca Huby, of Wrawby, took third spot. The 21-year-old sang Shania Twain's You're Still The One and LeAnn Rimes's Can't Fight The Moonlight.

Mr McLane said: "All the contestants were very good.

"We had everything from up-to-date stuff to Rebecca singing Judy Garland and Send In The Clowns. She had the audience spellbound."

Six singing hopefuls did battle for the chance to take this year's Pub Idol title.

With a first prize of £500 up for grabs, vocalists from around the region are competing in a string of heats to find the next singing star.

Other contestants who were beaten on the night included amateur singer David McNiece, 44, of Scunthorpe, Gillian Bee, 35 of Belton, and Chris Buttrick, 61, from Scunthorpe.

Among the hits they performed were Love Is All Around by Wet Wet Wet, Baby Can I Hold You Tonight by Ronan Keating, It's Not Fair by Lily Allen and Cry Me Out by Pixie Lott.