MORE than 1,000 fans met their pop idols Girls Aloud when they visited the region.

The five-member all-girl band were promoting their latest single, No Good Advice, at the Big W store on Portrack Lane, Stockton on Saturday.

Their first single, Sound of the Underground, went to number one in the charts after the band was formed on ITV's reality TV programme, Pop Stars.

"We've had a great day," said a spokesman for the store. "There were children of all ages queuing up in the sun to meet the girls. There were lots of smiles, laughs and even a few tears from the fans."

Girls Aloud - Cheryl, 19, Nadine, 17, Sarah, 21, Nicola, 17 and Kimberley, 22 - who have also released a new album, spent more than two hours signing records and T-shirts.

A quiet exit for Charlotte

SCHOOLGIRL singer Charlotte Reid gave a performance to be proud of on the live TV final of Stars in Their Eyes Kids, but failed to win.

The 14-year-old from Cleadon, South Tyneside, picked up 42,245 votes from the public on Saturday night for her version of the Bjork song, Oh So Quiet.

Winner Laura Davis, 13, got a massive 156,455 votes for her impersonation of 1950s singer Connie Francis.

. . . and a Bam Bam band chance for young talent

MORE then 100 girl singers made their own bid for pop fame as Girls Aloud met fans in the same town.

The aspiring singing stars were auditioning in Stockton to join new band Bam Bam.

The band already has three members and one of them, Andi Wilson, 19, from Washington, has written enough material for an album.

Now Andi and fellow band members Kerry 'K' Norman, 19, from Stockton and Clare Hunter, 19, from Newcastle, are auditioning other young female singers from across the North-East and North Yorkshire. The band are looking for another three singers and dancers to join them.

"The response has been unbelievable," said band manager Al Wilson. "We had 60 just on Saturday morning and the standard was incredibly high.

"We're still looking for more to come forward and audition. They need to be able to sing, dance and should have bags of attitude. We're going out on national radio next week so we expect to be inundated."

Auditions continue at the Santi Multi-Media Studio on Quayside Road, Stockton, all week. Call Janice Janathon on (01642) 602292 for details.