PROUD Gwent parents of Britain's Got Talent stars Only Boys Aloud are backing calls for the choir to become involved in the opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympics in London.

The choir came third in the live final on Saturday, and judge Amanda Holden gushed "I’ve always loved you" calling for them to be involved in the Olympics, saying:"I would be proud for you to represent the UK across the world".

Parents of the 48 Gwent youngsters involved in the 133-strong choir echoed the call, while an internet campaign has begun on Facebook.

An audience of 14.5 million people tuned into the ITV1 show to see the choir give a stirring rendition of Welsh hymn Calon Lan.

The performance led to viewers voting them third in the 11-strong final, whittled down from around 66,000 acts who took part in the show.

Of the performance of the hymn in Welsh, Judge Simon Cowell said: "I got emotional listening to a song that I didn't understand a word of."

The choir arrived back in Newport yesterday (Sunday), where parents and friends gave them a heroes welcome.

Colin White, father of Abersychan Comprehensive School pupil Liam, 15, called them "absolutely tremendous".

He said: "To come third out of 66,000 is amazing. I’d love to see them at the Olympics and they should perform before the Wales v Barbarians match next month."

Kaye Lowman, whose son, 16-year-old Coleg Gwent pupil Philip, from Six Bells, was involved, called the performance "phenomenal".

While the winning act- performing dog Pudsey and his owner Ashleigh- will perform at the Royal Variety show, Ms Lowman said: "I still think the Queen would love to see them."

Maria Dickinson was out celebrating on Saturday, with her son Keenan Knight, 18, from Risca, involved.

She said:"They did all of Wales proud and it would be great to see them open the Olympics."

The group was set up in 2010 by choir master Tim Rhys-Evans and involves 14 to 19-year-olds who practise around south Wales, including 11 in Ebbw Vale and 37 in Cwmbran.