A YOUNG singer and an Irish-dancing barman were the winners of Abingdon’s annual festival of talent.

The fourth Abingdon’s Got Talent competition, organised by the town council, was staged in the Market Place on Saturday, pitting against each other 19 acts, ranging from a body-bop dancer to a singing grandfather.

But the winners were 14-year-old singer Francesca Sissons, with her moving version of Paolo Nutini’s song Rewind, and the Riverdance-style wizardry of Ed Henderson, 22, a barman at the Barley Mow pub.

Francesca, a pupil at the School of St Helen and St Katharine, Abingdon, said: “I never really expected to win it. My microphone was too high up when I started, so I had to stop and start again.

“I am really shocked, and have never won anything like this before.”

Francesca has recently recorded a demo of her work, and aims to become a professional singer.

Mr Henderson, of Drayton, said he took up Irish dancing aged 14 after watching Riverdance and Lord of the Dance on television. After taking lessons and attending dance college in London, he said he hoped it was still not too late to make it as a professional.

He said: “I don’t know whether I have missed my chance of being in the big shows, but I would really love it. All the years of practice have really torn up the front room carpet and the kitchen floor, and I have never entered anything like this before.”

The mayor of Abingdon, Mike Badcock, who was on the judging panel, said he was amazed by the quality of the acts on display in the competition.

He said: “I just did not realise we had so much talent in the town. Ed was in a class of his own. So many of the acts were entertaining, but he was technically brilliant.

“There was a whole range of talent on show, as well as confidence in getting up on stage and performing in front of the town.”

In the 17-and-under competition, duet Sofia Himpson and Ella Lovell, and street dancer Jasmine Ricketts shared second place, while dancer Oona Landsgrebe was third .

Singer Amy Wilson took the runners-up prize in the 18-plus competition, with singing sisters Jaqui Hepher and Pam Aird in third place.

Other acts included the Strawberry Fayre Major-ettes, granddad Anthony Smith, who honed his version of The Eagles’ Lyin’ Eyes in karaoke contests, and rock band No Fear, made up of three pupils at John Mason School, Abingdon.