YOUNG sopranos battled it out for the honour of performing for hundreds of people on the North-East's own Last Night of the Proms.

But it was 13-year-old Sarah Kelly who beat off competition from six other young finalists to clinch Music for Darlington's Young Soprano of the Year title.

Sarah, from Stanley, County Durham, was the youngest finalist and was making her debut in the competition.

Now the St Bede's, Lanchester, pupil will perform in front of hundreds of music lovers at the Proms event, which will be held at the Dolphin Centre, on May 19.

The runner-up was 16-year-old Eleanor Firth, from Darlington. Ruth Ellen James, 15, from Middlesbrough was third.

Organiser Ivor Shirley said: "The standard of the entries gets better and better every year and Sarah seemed absolutely shocked to have won it, because it was the first time she has entered the competition.

"She is young but she has a fantastic voice and is very talented and really deserved to win."

As runner-up, Eleanor will perform at the Promenade for Youth concert, which is held at the Dolphin Centre the night before, on May 18, and features more than 200 young musicians.

Tickets for both concerts, which are sponsored by Cummins, and supported by The Northern Echo, are available from the Dolphin Centre, or Williams the Music People, in Darlington.