Ref. 31141-75KATIE Langan definitely hit the right note with judges to be crowned Pop Idol of Swindon last night.

The 13-year-old stole the show at Commonweal School with a stunning performance of the classic song from the Wizard of Oz, Over the Rainbow.

The teenager, who attends the school, was one of 19 youngsters to take part in the competition, and her rendition would have left even TV's Mr Nasty Simon Cowell, pictured top right, silenced.

And Kelly Stooke of BBC Radio Swindon, who was on the judging panel, admitted that she was left speechless after the performance.

She said: "There were no ifs and buts Katie was the clear winner. She was simply fantastic.

"All three judges put stars against her name as we were listening to her.

"I was amazed by her voice and I expect to see her on the TV in the future.

"I am confident that she can go all the way."

And that's exactly what the young star intends to do.

In January, her family plans to move to Torquay, where she will join a stage school to hone her skills.

She said: "I really want to perform in the West End. I love singing and dancing."

Katie, who bags £100 and a trophy, revealed how she was persuaded to enter the competition part of the Old Town Festival by her singing teacher Julie Williams of the K School in Victoria Road.

She said: "One day I was singing the song in my living school and my sister said how much she liked it.

"So I told my teacher and she said that I should sing it in this competition I'm glad I did."

Proud mum Lorna Leftwich, 36, said her daughter is a born star.

"She loves singing and dancing and is completely dedicated," she said.

"Her sisters and I were in tears when she was up on the stage. We are all very proud of her."

The most popular song of the evening was Avril Lavigne's hit tune Sk8er Boi which was sung three times.

Abigail Taylor, nine, even donned the singer's trademark dark make-up for her performance.

The youngster from Marlborough Road, in Old Town, said she had been practising the song for weeks on her karaoke machine.

"I am skater girl just like her," she said.

Dad Jon, 36, added: "She loves her singing. She starts from the moment that she wakes up in the morning."

Organiser Brian Mattock hopes to make the competition an annual event. He said: "It went brilliantly. The standard of participation was absolutely incredible."

Kevin Shoesmith