A TORFAEN teenager who dreams of being a professional singer came out top in a talent show to find the best Wales has to offer.

Classically-trained Louise Hall, 15, scooped a £1,000 prize and a contract worth £10,000 after winning Welsh Factor.

The St Albans RC High School pupil, who lives in North Road, Abersychan, found out about the competition, run by the Welsh Factor Academy, after scanning the internet for contests to enter.

After filling in a form, she got three rounds of singing live in front of a panel of judges before conquering 25 acts in the final to take top spot.

Miss Hall, who has two brothers, Grant, 20, and Rhys, 13, and sang her first solo aged two in Snatchwood Road Methodist Church, said she was "shocked" when judges read out her name after she performed Whitney Houston's “I Will Always Love You” in the final.

She added: "It's my dream to become a singer and when I won it felt really good, I was so excited but didn't really know what to do with myself."

As part of her winning contract, she will now perform in shows at pubs and clubs across South Wales.