IT’S crunch time for vocalists from Weymouth as the final local heat of the Star Sensations singing competition approaches.

Three finalists from the town have already been chosen to take part in the competition’s finale, taking place in Bournemouth next month, after the first of the Weymouth heats.

The competition was set up to find the best singer in Dorset and elsewhere on the South Coast.

Competition organiser and talent judge Darren Burt said the standard of singing from Weymouth’s vocalists had been very high so far.

Twelve entrants battled it out to win a place in the competition finale during the first of the Weymouth heats, which were held at the town’s Centenary Club in Jubilee Close.

Mr Burt said the standard of the entrants was so high that judges had to choose three finalists to go through instead of just two.

Mr Burt said: “The quality of the singers from Weymouth overall was outstanding and it made it very hard to pick just two winners.

“The judges’ votes were split equally between two of the singers, so we put both through, as well as the audience’s pick of the third finalist.”

The finalists now in the running to win the £1,000 grand prize plus a day in a recording studio and the title of Star Sensation 2009 are Carly Turner, Leanne Warne and Sophie Easthope, who went through as the audience’s choice.

Mr Burt said the heat’s compere, Chrissy Ferkin, did his best to put entrants’ nerves at ease before the heat by getting the audience involved in the show, including pulling one woman out of the audience to sing on stage.

The judges included musical composer Graeme Ennis, fellow musician Grant James and Mr Burt of competition organisers CFK Promotions, based in Bournemouth.

The second Weymouth heat will take place in the Centenary Club this Monday.

The competition finale will take place in Bournemouth, venue to be confirmed, on May 10. For more information, call Mr Burt on 07773 376607 or visit www.starsensations.co.uk