THE stars of tomorrow caught the eye of Fame Academy's Alistair Griffin when he dropped in at York's performing arts school.

Alistair judged a talent contest at the city's very own answer to Fame - Manor School - on Monday where 18 young hopefuls from Year 10 and Year 11 took to the stage in an effort to impress their hero.

Up for grabs was the chance to perform alongside Alistair at the Grand Opera House on Tuesday.

The singer was so impressed by the quality of the 18 contests that he found it hard to pick out an outright winner. After an agonising wait, 14-year-old, Catherine Schofield was told that her rendition of Sting's Fields Of Gold had clinched first place, with Casper Haslam, also 14, and Russell Carr and Annabel Watson, both 15, winning the chance to provide a ten-minute supporting act at Alistair's show. Catherine said: "I really didn't think I was going to get it, I was so nervous, but then when I was told I had got it I just couldn't stopping jumping around and hugging people."

Liz Carter, the acting head of music at the school, said she was very proud of all the pupils who took part.

Updated: 09:25 Wednesday, November 10, 2004