Acts club together for top night

The shining stars of the past year on the circuit assembled at a packed Pensnett Social Welfare Centre in Commonside to display their wide array of talents for a standing-room-only crowd of around 300 fans.

And those who flocked through the doors were treated to a three-hour extravaganza of music and comedy which filled the dancefloor with fancy footwork and the room with raucous laughter.

The show honoured the 2009 Shooting Stars Awards winners, celebrating the performers who have wowed Midlands audiences in the last 12 months. The event is supported by social clubs across the region and is run by Midland Counties Entertainment Secretaries Council Awards.

The tone was set by singing starlets Luke Millard and Amy Brindley, tipped for future stardom aged just 12 and 15 respectively. Ellowes Hall School pupil Luke was first of the two to take the stage and showed no sign of nerves as he belted out favourites such as Brown Eyed Girl and Be Young Be Foolish Be Happy.

"I'm just happy going round the circuit," Luke, who lives with parents Paul and Sue in Cypress Avenue, Dudley, said, adding he "felt great" when he heard he had been awarded the Male Star of the Future title.

And Amy, who travelled from her home in Rugeley to sing soulful numbers from favourites such as Tina Turner, Whitney Houston and Duffy, followed suit with an equally strong display. Having already spent five years grabbing the microphone in front of hundreds she said she was "over the moon" to win Female Star of the Future.

The pair followed 23-year-old Sam Jones, who kicked off the night. The Best Newcomer winner, of Probert Road, Oxley, Wolverhampton, has only been performing solo since August last year.

Any dreams of stardom? "That would be great," the receptionist, who is married with a child on the way, said, "but if not I've made a lot of friends doing this." Most controversial entertainer of the night was Welsh comedienne Just Deb, aka Debra Jones, who took to the stage in garish pyjamas and red slippers and proceeded to deliver comedy as colourful as her outfit.

The larger than life 39-year-old, who has been performing for 15 years and is looking for work in the Midlands after a solitary gig in Worcester.

And the civil servant from Swansea revealed she "terrified" Simon Cowell when she tried her hand at the TV talent show Britain's Got Talent show recently, winning through to the top 100 before going out. She was named Star Comedy Vocalist.

Star Male Vocalist Paul James, 35, of Apperley Way, Halesowen, donned a flamboyant red sequinned shirt for his 30-minute slice of the action as he rolled out smooth classics from Gene Pitney and Elvis Presley. Natwest bank worker Keeley Johnson and professional singer Richard Delo who perform as New Gold, got the Best Duo award last night.

Council secretary Malcolm Edwards said he was delighted with how the night had gone but reserved special praise for "fantastic" youngsters Luke and Amy. Dean Whittle from Rowley and Blackheath Labour Club was compere for the evening.