THERE are just three weeks left until the winner of South Ribble Borough Council's Search for a Star competition will be decided.

A panel of local judges will pick which of the ten finalists has what it takes to be crowned a star and is most worthy of the £200 prize money.

The Citizen has been profiling the finalists and this week stepping into the spotlight are Sam Hilton and Suzanne Murphy.

Sam, 17, is a student at Runshaw College, Leyland, where she is studying performing arts, media, film and fine art.

The talented singer recently entered Postars: The Rivals, but didn't make the cut. Now she hopes to impress South Ribble's judges instead.

Sam, from Balniel Close, Chorley, said the opposition she'll be facing in the competition is daunting.

She said: "When I went to the auditions I could hear the other entrants through the doors and they all sounded really good.

"But I've done talent shows in Chorley and Wigan, and also Fleetwood, so I've got experience."

Sam will be singing Memories, by Elaine Paige.

"I've sung the song before when I did a show," she said. "A few people said I sounded like her so I decided to sing that for the competition.

"After college I'd like to go to drama college and get a big part in a main show on TV -- or be a pop star!"

Also stepping on to the stage on Friday, November 15 for the final will be 27-year-old Suzanne Murphy, from Oak Croft in Clayton-le-Woods, near Preston.

Suzanne, a professional singer, is no stranger to talent contests and intends to impress the judges.

She said: "I don't play near my home very often. I tend to play further afield. I've just come back from Denmark and I was out there for ten days. Before that I did the Labour Party conference in Blackpool.

"I play lots of different places. One day I'll be in London, the next Westhoughton."

Suzanne was a late-starter with singing and didn't find her talent until she was 18!

She explained: "I went to Blackpool and Fylde College. I was taking the mickey out of my teacher because she was an opera singer and she asked me to stay behind.

"I thought I was going to get in trouble, but she offered to give me lessons!"

Suzanne will be singing a song by Anastasia.