THIRTY acts provided non-stop entertainment for 11 hours in the Berwick's Got Talent competition in a marquee on Spittal School field on Sunday.
The undisputed fact the town and district has class acts was underlined and the Mayor, Coun Hazel Bettison - whose initiative led to the event being organised by Berwick Rotary Club - the judges and officials agreed.
In a speech at the end, the mayo
r said the young people had been a credit to themselves and the community.
The event, in aid of her charities, was very successful and she promised to try to arrange another for youngsters before the end of her term in office.
Grant Findlay, president of the rotary club, undertook a marathon stint on the judging panel along with Johnny Childs and Dino Casser, who had both appeared as stars of the Motown Magic night in the marquee the previous evening.
They are both former members of a Drifters tribute group.
Mr Findlay said; "They were impressed, told me they had enjoyed the various acts and said all of them had shown high quality. They felt, as I did, that there is great talent in this area.
"We are all delighted that so many turned up to compete and that so many came along to watch.
"The marquee was packed for most of the afternoon and there were 150 watching the final stages, which featured local bands and regulars from the 'open mic' sessions at The Maltings.
"I am particularly grateful to the organising chairman, Ken Budge, and Michael Richardson for the tremendous efforts they made.
"The mayor worked very hard all day and has done so much to put Spittal on the map over the last few days. She has always been supportive of the club and we were pleased to help."
The comperes, who did a fine job, were Liz Breckons and Bob Wilkinson.
Vocalist and guitar player Richard Dunn won the £100 prize for the best overall performance.
The prize for the best newcomers went to Robby's Band and the runners-up awards to the Fab Four - Levi Kay and three friends - for their excellent dance act, and to four-year-old Josh Clark.
Both the band and the dancing girls were called back for an encore by the enthusiastic audience and the ten year-olds won more audience applause at the end when they gave their prize money to the mayor's charities.
The rotary club plans to stage an all winners concert, together with a classical section, early in the new year.
The full article contains 430 words and appears in n/a newspaper.