Two talented Wiltshire singers have made it through an X-Factor style audition in a national competition.

Hundreds of wannabee stars attended auditions for Open Mic UK 2009 and single mother Torbird, from West Lavington, and schoolboy Corey Rumble, 14, of Colerne, are through to the regional final at St Georges in Bristol on October 31.

At the auditions, also at St Georges, the contestants sang in front of three judges for up to two minutes.

Torbird, real name Victoria Burt, 31, said: “Five of us were called in at a time and we had half a minute to sing in front of the judges. Five minutes after we had finished we were told if we were through or not.”

Miss Burt, who has a nine-year-old daughter, Morgan, has played acoustic guitar since she was seven and she began writing songs in her teens.

She describes her music as folky and has started to play solo gigs in Bristol and Swindon. She has joined a band called Devolution, singing backing vocals and playing the tambourine.

At the audition she sang one of her songs, Grey Days, Bright Nights, and will sing another of her compositions at the regional final when she will be competing against 20 singers aged 23 and over.

Miss Burt, who is currently unemployed but last worked as an assistant at Lavington Pre-school, said: “I only entered the competition for the experience, I didn’t expect to go through.” She is also a member of the Wharf Theatre in Devizes and is appearing in a production called Rhythm of Life in September.

Corey sang Words by Boyzone at the audition and was given a second chance by the judges.

Corey said: “The first time I sang I was quite nervous but the second time I was less nervous. It’s really exciting to go through to the regional final.”

He will be one of 22 singers in the under 16 category.

He has been attending Stagecoach theatre school in Bath for two years and has performed in its productions.

Regional winners will go through to the national final later this year. The winner of the competition will record their own album.

The contestants have a number of tickets for sale for the regional final. Contact Torbird at www.myspace.com/torbirdisflying and for Corey email tracyrum ble5223@hotmail.com

Two other singers – Lauren Dobbin of Melksham and Ray Esbach of Swindon – have reached the regional final.