THE Willows was turned into the West End for an outstanding talent show.
The first Freshney Ward Has Talent show attracted a packed audience to The Willows Church Centre.
Nicola Batts, pictured above right, 19, gave a spellbinding performance of Claud Michel Schonberg's classic West End hit "I Dreamed a Dream," from Les Miserables and won the 13 to 19 years category.
She has a dream to one day see the show on stage.
She learned the song from watching the movie at the cinema and on a video from the 25th anniversary of the West End hit.
The former Great Coates Primary and Whitgift Academy pupil said: "I love the musical. I have seen it every way possible except on stage.
"I am overwhelmed at winning. I did not expect it but glad people enjoyed it."
The undergraduate student of criminology and social policy at the University of Lincoln said: "I was not sure what to sing but Daniel Melkevik (pianist) encouraged me and gave me the confidence to be able to do it."
She added: "I would not have entered if it was not for the organiser Theresa Crowe, who also encouraged me."
Theresa, a youth worker at Whitgift Youth Club hailed the fantastic night of talent.
She said: "I am elated. It was a fantastic event which brought the community together from the church, the youth centre and from throughout the Freshney ward."
She thanked the three ward councillors Cliff Barber, Peggy Elliott and Ray Sutton for sponsoring the talent show and providing Freshney Place shopping centre vouchers for the winners. The Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, Councillor Mike Burton awarded the prizes.
He said: "I travel all over Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire and what comes to mind is that we have a fantastic community spirit. I am so proud of all the young people. They are a credit to their parents, a credit to the area they live in and a credit to the borough."
The winners were chosen by judges Donna Burns, services manager for North East Lincolnshire Young People Support Services, Carl Thomas, photographer and Karen Leshone, a professional singer.
Nicola narrowly won over Christina Marie Hanslow and threesome The Edge were third.
There was also a superb monologue by Craig Johnson based on impressions in a hospital ward which had the audience mesmerised.
In the under 12s category the winners were The Discoveries of the Willows Church Centre.
Second placed was Jaecie Hope Alderson and third was Abigail Parker.
