Ref. 71736-17WANNABE pop stars hoped to be spotted in a Swindon optician in a national Pop Idol-style contest.

Specsavers is looking for a fourth member for the All Eyes band, which fronts the company's TV commercials for designer sunglasses.

It claims to have launched the competition because a singer had to be sacked because of his dubious fashion sense he is shown in the advert wearing geeky specs.

There are four auditions taking place around the country but the Swindon branch in Regent Street opened late to help hopefuls make a video if they couldn't get to the try-outs.

The winner will join the band in the London studio to sing on their new single She's A Vision, which is being released in aid of the charity Guide Dogs.

Glenn Harris, 25, of Wootton Bassett, was the first at the Swindon audition and sang New York, New York. He said: "It was probably an odd choice for a boy band but I wanted to show them I can sing."

People can catch Glenn performing again at a fete at Faringdon Road Park on Saturday.

Next up was Craig Aldridge, 24, of Shaw Ridge, who sang Handbags And Gladrags, which was a hit for Stereophonics and Rod Stewart.

Craig has performed in pubs and clubs around Swindon and is trying to re-form a band called the Luminaries.

He said: "It is not ideal, performing at the end of a busy day but I thought I would come down and give it a go."

Organiser Penny Mulcocks said: "The auditions have been going really well.

"It would be really great if someone from Swindon got through to the final and even better if they won."

Ten finalists will be chosen to go through to the grand final in September.

TV celebrity Tim Vincent will host the event and the finalists will have to perform in a panel of celebrity judges, including Matt Goss a former member of the band Bros and TV and radio presenter Andi Peters.

All finalists will also win a mobile phone and a £150 voucher to spend on Specsavers' designer sunglasses .

Auditions will take place in London on August 14 and in Birmingham on August 15. Would-be stars who are unable to attend should drop in a video or DVD to their nearest Specsavers.

Entries must be received by August 23.

Bhavani Vadde