A Norwich schoolgirl is set to compete against some of the most talented bands and artists in the region after impressing judges with a song she wrote for a bet.

Norwich High School pupil Ellie Hitchcock-Wyatt beat hundreds of hopefuls at the regional auditions of Live and Unsigned, the UK's biggest music competition, with her debut song 'Stop Talking'.

The 13-year-old, from Grove Walk, near the city centre, will now take part in the regional finals of the talent contest at Ipswich Corn Exchange on April 9.

If she gets through that round, the teenager will then go on to perform at the Live and Unsigned Festival at the O2 arena in July, where the overall winner will be crowned, receiving a recording and management contract with Future Music.

Ellie, who has been singing solos since she was nine, said: 'My friend bet me that I couldn't write a song about one of our lessons.

'I have always wanted to be a professional singer/songwriter, so I agreed to give it a go, and then when I heard about Live and Unsigned, I thought, 'here's my chance'. The auditions were pretty scary since everyone seemed to be a lot older than me, but I got through. I can't believe it.'

More than 10,000 unsigned artists register for the Live and Unsigned competition every year.

As well as a talent for singing and songwriting, Ellie, whose parents Clive and Jacqueline founded award-winning greeting cards company Tom 'N' Ellie, has a talent for amateur dramatics and writing books.

At the age of 11, she won a National Operatic and Dramatic Association award as Best Youth Performer for her role as Mary in the Norfolk Youth Music Theatre's production of The Secret Garden.

She has also had two books published by Maverick Books, Princess Chloe's Sticky Adventure and Princess Chloe and the Sugar Bun Fairies.

To hear Ellie sing, go to our website at www.eveningnews24.co.uk

Do you know a talented youngster? Call Evening News reporter Kate Scotter on 01603 772326 or email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk