AS the final stage of South Ribble Borough Council's Search for a Star competition is drawing near, contestants are gearing up for the big day.

On Friday, November 15, among the ten wannabes strutting their stuff will be Kaye Paxton, 18, and 12-year-old Nicola West.

Kaye, of Crofters Green, Plungington, Preston, is no stranger to talent competitions. A few months ago, she auditioned for the TV show, Popstars: The Rivals.

She said: "I did the auditions, but I didn't get far. Now I'm just going to try everything I can, and see how far I get."

When she isn't singing, Kaye enjoys playing netball.

But she is looking forward to singing, after taking some time out for health reasons. She said: " I sing in pubs at weekends, but I had my tonsils out a year ago so I've only just started back singing recently."

Kaye, who works in a jeweller's in the town, will be singing a number by one of her favourite artists, LeAnn Rimes.

She explained: "I'll be doing Looking Through Your Eyes. LeAnn Rimes and Celine Dion are my favourites."

One of the two younger contestants is Nicola West, a pupil at Holy Cross High School, Chorley.

But her mother says her age won't stop her impressing the judges. Mum Catherine said: "She's into everything. She has been dancing since she was two, singing since she was seven and doing drama since she was five.

"She wants to go into the performing arts when she leaves school."

Nicola, of Rawcliffe Road, Chorley, will be singing Get Happy performed by Zoe Birkett -- the singer who came third in ITV's Pop Idol, behind Will and Gareth.