A TEN-YEAR-OLD singer who won the hearts of people across the world is hoping to inspire North-East youngsters to match his success.

Tom Morley, the UK's representative in the first Junior Eurovision Song Contest, is visiting the region for the talentSTAR 2004 tour.

Adam Chetter, the head of talentSTAR, which is based in Stanley, County Durham, said: "It is a real coup for us to have Tom performing on the tour.

"He is an excellent performer and is sure to have a successful music career.

"It is an excellent opportunity to have the tour performers and audience see someone who has achieved so much on an international stage at such a young age."

Tom, from Cumbria, came first in a live vote on ITV1 to decide who should represent the UK at the Junior Eurovision event in Copenhagen, Denmark, last year.

The singer beat thousands of entrants with his track Through The Eyes Of A Child, which he wrote about the war in Iraq.

He came third in the event, which was watched by millions.

He will perform at selected dates on the talentSTAR school tour, which gives opportunities to up-and-coming music performers.

Over the next five months, more than 2,000 would-be performers in the North-East will take to the stage.

The tour is sponsored by singtotheworld.com and is supported by The Princes Trust and the Arts Council North East.

For details about the tour's shows, log on to www.talent star.net

Published: 13/01/2004