It was like a scene from the Oscars at the final of this year's Search for a Summer Star.

Little Chloe Walker could not hold back the tears after being crowned the winner of the contest, run by Fishergate Shopping Centre in conjunction with the Citizen and Rock FM.

But the 11-year-old deserved every minute of her time in the spotlight after wowing Saturday shoppers with two beautiful songs of her choice -- Where Do Broken Hearts Go?, by Whitney Houston, and Closest Thing to Crazy by Katie Melua -- which she belted out in superb style.

The petite budding star proved to me and fellow judges, Rock FM's Gemma Dee and Allan Baker of the Guild Hall, that size is no object when it comes to giving it large on stage.

Oozing confidence, she hopped onto the makeshift stage on the first floor of the shopping centre and gave the songs her all.

Her jolly personality kept on shining through and the crowds lapped up her seemingly effortless performance.

Although there was only half a point in it, the Kirkham Grammar School pupil came out on top and proved she had a big heart too after pledging to donate £50 of her £500 Fishergate Shopping Centre voucher prize to Rock FM's Help a Local Child charity appeal.

"I want to buy a new microphone and stand with the rest," said Chloe, from Bartle, Preston, who has been singing since the age of five.

"I'm so happy to win, I just can't believe it. I love singing but my idol is Christina Aguilera.

"When I'm older I would love to work in something to do with singing. Maybe teaching."

Coming a close second, and winning £350 Fishergate vouchers, was Charlotte O'Connor, 14, from Blackburn, who gave a gospel-style rendition of the hymn, Amazing Grace, before hammering out the Alicia Keys track, If I Ain't Got You.

Third place went to Kingsley Judd, ten, from Penwortham, one of only two boys from the nine contestants, who won £250 vouchers for the centre, and Gemma Doyle, 13, from Leyland, won fourth place, receiving £100 vouchers.