BUDDING songstress Sarah Ruddick has [...]; MUSIC: Songstress through to national finals.

Byline: Martin Bagot

BUDDING songstress Sarah Ruddick has beat off competition from rival acts to go through to the grand fi-nals of a national competition searching for the next music sensation.

Hundreds of music-lovers at The Assembly in Leamington were wowed by the 25-yearold, who will now go on to face some of the nation's top talent in Open Mike UK.

It sees singers, rappers and musicians of all genres battling it out for a recording contract and the coveted chance to release their own single.

Speaking of her performance last week, the former King Henry VIII School pupil said: "It was scary, but really fun. I never thought I'd go through at all - not in a million years.

"When they called my name out I couldn't believe it, I ran around the stage like a complete psycho. I've been on a high all week at work."

Sarah, a social worker from Earlsdon, Coventry, triumphed at the Assembly with her acoustic folk-style after performing her own song, called Saving Grace.

Now the winners from all 12 regional heats will perform at The Willows Variety Centre in Manchester on December 6, before a tough judging panel which includes former boyband member Dane Bowers and the mastermind behind girl group Atomic Kitten.

She said: "All I ever wanted to so is sing really. I tried to teach myself the guitar and I did have a few lessons too along the way. But I love singing and it would be brilliant if I could win this."