LOWTON singer Martin Gregory Lambert has cracked the talent trail in his quest for fame.

But the 18 stone star has hit out at the image conscious entertainment industry for its prejudice against anyone who is overweight.

Martin, who has walked away with another two big contest victories -- taking his tally to 11 wins from 15 in two years -- feels his size could be stopping him from hitting the big time.

The part-time florist wowed the judges with his powerful voice at the prestigious Leigh Coors-Carling Talent Contest final in a packed Edna Road Labour Club to pick up the £1,000 first prize, just two weeks after taking the Talent Trail 2003 title and a £1,500 pot after winning over a huge Hull audience for the second year.

Martin, 33, who has been compared to Michael Ball, captured both audiences with his stunning vocals and humour.

But he feels his size is against his ambition of TV stardom.

He said: "I can't understand why the industry wants everyone to look the same. Variety is supposed to be the spice of life.

"Larger people don't seem the get the same breaks as stick insects regardless of how good an act they are. If you're not pretty enough they won't touch you. Unfortunately I wasn't blessed with Tom Cruise looks, I'm a bit more Chubby Brown.

"I've tried slimming but I'm a naturally big lad and if I lost two stones I'd just look like everyone else.

"If I was black or gay they couldn't hold it against me, but it seems if you're overweight people can say what they like. It wouldn't be me if I changed would it?

"It does my head in when young girls with skirts up to their backsides and talentless, good looking lads with no stage presence or singing ability become big stars."

Martin congratulated the Leigh contest organisers Shout Promotions of Atherton, the Labour club and promoters.

Judges included Journal general manager Margaret McLoughlin and Leigh Centurion's head coach Paul Terzis.

In 2000 Martin, a Leigh Stars in Their Eyes winner was surprised when Cruise discovery Jane MacDonald sailed into his wife Jane's Amaryllis flower shop and invited him to take part in the the BBC talent show Star For a Night.