THE original Stoke's Top Talent champion has beaten competition from 8,000 performers to reach the final of a major national talent search.

Dan Hewitt, aged 22, from Fenton, pictured, is through to the Open Mic UK final after stunning judges at the North West regional heat in Liverpool on Sunday.

The former debt-collector will now sing for a professional recording contract and the chance to tour the country at The Willow, Manchester, on December 6.

Dan, who performed Nina Simone's 'Feelin Good' on Sunday, said: "I'm over the moon. I went absolutely mad when I found out. I gave the performance of my life and I was the first one of the three to be put through.

"I had so many people messaging me on Facebook, telling me to 'do it for Stoke'.

"I can't believe it really, this competition goes across the whole country and I'm basically representing everyone in the whole of the Midlands and Staffordshire."

Tickets for the final are available on the door, priced £7.50.