Peter WalshWith celebrity judges from the hit ITV1 show Britain's Got Talent currently scouring the country looking for the next Susan Boyle or Diversity, people from this region have been urged to show Norfolk has got talent as part of a brand new competition.Peter Walsh

With celebrity judges from the hit ITV1 show Britain's Got Talent currently scouring the country looking for the next Susan Boyle or Diversity, people from this region have been urged to show Norfolk has got talent as part of a brand new competition.

The hunt is on to find the very best singers, dancers, comedians, entertainers and variety acts from this part of the country to take part in the very first Norfolk's Got Talent competition.

The talent contest, which is backed by the Evening News, will feature a series of heats at The Talk in Norwich throughout June with the grand final at the 450-seater venue on Sunday, July 4.

And as if winning the very first Norfolk's Got Talent competition was not enough, the victorious act will also walk away with the �500 first prize.

The contest is the brainchild of Joe Ringer, 25, a graphic designer in the creative design team at Archant Norfolk which publishes the Evening News, who also runs Norwich-based events and performance company Mixed Voice with Josh Lincoln and Rick Greer.

Mr Ringer, who is also a big band singer with experience of performing at many of the biggest venues in the region, including the Norwich Playhouse and Maddermarket Theatre, will be one of three judges on the panel, along with ex-West End singer Holly Graham and Heather Millan who runs a dance school in the city.

People who think they have what it takes to win the competition, which is launched today, will be able to apply via an application form on the website www.norfolksgottalent.co.uk up until April 23.

Then organisers will whittle down the applications to just 32 who will go through to the heats on June 9, 16, 23, and 30 with the best two from each round going through to the final.

Mr Ringer said: 'We want to find people who have got talent, know how to use it, and know how to perform. You can have the best singer in the world, but if they just stand there dead eyed it's no good.

'We're also looking for variety. There's a lot of people that have talent, but don't always know where to put it. We're hoping to give people a chance to show us what they've got. We're looking to promote and develop local talent.'

The nation become gripped by Britain's Got Talent fever over the past few years with millions tuning in to see street dancing group Diversity crowned winners of last year's show.

More than 8,000 people turned out to see the group switch on the Christmas lights at Chapelfield last November and Mr Ringer said he hoped this enthusiasm would translate to the people of Norwich and the rest of the county by inspiring them to take part in this new competition.

But even those that are not successful will still be able to participate as an audience member at each of the heats and, of course, the final itself, where just as on the ITV1 show the crowd will be an integral part of proceedings.

Mr Ringer said: 'We hope we can get a big audience - that's what we're looking for. We want cheering and booing.'

To apply for a place log onto www.norfolksgottalent.co.uk or call 01603 469183.

For audience tickets for the heats (�4) or the final (�8) call the box office on 01603 469183.

Have your talents won you national acclaim? Call reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk