Forget Stars in Their Eyes or Opportunity Knocks!

Southend's wannabe performers are being offered the chance to shine - at this year's Shoebury Fair.

More than £500 of prizes will be up for grabs for contestants, young and old, taking the stage at the award-winning fair held at Gunners Park on June 5 and 6.

It will be the second time organisers have held a talent contest and one of the finalists of last year, Ruby Tuesday, went on to appear on Michael Barrymore's My Kind of Music show and land herself a cash prize.

There will be two categories - ten to 15 years and adults (16 -plus) - with heats held on Saturday, June 5 with the finals in front of an audience of thousands on the Sunday.

Contestants have to provide their own backing on a good- quality tape and the performance must last no more than five minutes.

Technical rehearsals and soundchecks will take place before the event. A Shoebury Fair spokesman said: "Although an amateur contest, the standards are by no means amateurish."

The competition is free to enter and is open to anyone providing they do not earn their living from performing, do not have a manager or agent and are not registered on any agent's books.

If you fancy having a go, call 01702 297702 for an entry form.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.