VIDEO: Future rosy for talented singer

SINGING sensations took their place in the spotlight to battle it out in the third heat of the Scunthorpe Telegraph's Pub Idol 2009.

Seven contestants showed off their voices on Monday evening at Platforms in Station Road, Scunthorpe, in a bid to win the coveted Pub Idol trophy.

And you can view a video of the contestants below:

For Shane Conneely, 21, of Kirk Close, Scunthorpe, the competition was the first such contest he had taken part in.

The unemployed football fan performed Black And Gold by Sam Sparro and Losing My Religion by REM.

"It was absolutely fantastic as I normally do things like karaoke – but it was ace and I'll do it again," he said.

And contestant Gillian Bee, 34, a delivery driver from Scunthorpe incorporated an unusual twist to her performance by wowing the crowds with a belly dancing routine.

The singer, who sang The Woman In Me by Shania Twain and Objection by Shakira, said she loved every minute of it.

"I really enjoyed myself. It was such a good night," she said.

"Shakira does some belly dancing in her video so I thought I'd give it a go and I'd kept it a secret that I was doing it."

Other contestants included Carrie Hickson, 29, of Trent Street, Scunthorpe who sang What's Up by Four Non Blondes and Ironic by Alanis Morissette; Kayleigh Hotchin, 16, who sang Poker Face by Lady GaGa and How To Save A Life by The Fray and Lea Bourton, 22, of Victoria Road, Ashby, who sang St Elmo's Fire by John Parr and Wind Beneath Behind My Wings by Bette Midler.

But it was Laura Rose, 16, of Kingsway, Scunthorpe who stole the show with her version of Duffy's Rain On Your Parade and Redneck Woman by Gretchen Wilson.

The singer, who is due to start John Leggott College in September, said she was thrilled to have won.

"I was pleased with my performance and a bit surprised to have won," she said.

"It would be great to win the whole thing."

Runner-up Rachel Lewis, 30, from York Road, Brigg, will also be going through to the final after impressing judges with one of her own songs – Break.

The talented singer and songwriter, who has been writing her own tracks for five years, said her victory meant a double celebration as she was celebrating getting married just two weeks earlier.

"I enjoyed it and I did my best and that's all I can do," she said.

The next heat will be taking part on Monday, August 10 at The Carnival Inn, Tofts Road, Barton-Upon-Humber.