A TEESSIDE teenager is through to the grand final of a national singing competition

Middlesbrough College student, Bethany Wells, 18, of Ingleby Barwick, won a place in the final of TeenStar.

The ‘ecstatic’ singer, who is currently studying A Levels, was left feeling disheartened after her performance at the semi-final in Huddersfield.

She said: "I didn’t think I had done my best to be honest. I could not believe it when I found out I was through, I was ecstatic.!

Bethany started singing lessons when she was 13, and was urged to join the competition from singing coach Linzi Hunter.

During Bethany’s performance in the late-teen category, TeenStar judges said: “Amazing Vocals. So powerful and you preformed the vocal runs with ease. Best performance of the day.”

More than 8,000 acts enter the competition each year, wanting to be the UK’s best TeenStar.

Future music, the company behind the competition, discovered artists such as Birdy, Jaymi and Jahmene from Union J and Lucy Spraggan.

Proud dad Garry Wells said: “I am still smiling from ear to ear; we are over the moon with the result.

“Bethany knows it’s a hard career to get into, but she puts all her efforts into both her music and her studies.”

The final is held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on July 19.