A CHARITY event raising more than £6,500 has proved that Dorset does indeed have talent.

Eleven-year-old Shermieanne Bull, from Maiden Newton, was announced the winner of Dorset's Got Talent 2016 at Saturday's final after wowing the audience, judges and fellow contestants with her rendition of On My Own from Les Miserables.

Second and third places were awarded to dance group D F Beatz and singer Alissia Follan.

The event is in its third year and is held in aid of Weldmar Hospicecare Trust.

A rough estimate of the Dorset Echo-backed talent show, held at the Freshwater Holiday Park at Burton Bradstock, revealed that more than £6,500 has been raised for the charity.

Katie Slade, events fundraiser for Weldmar said: "It was a fantastic evening. The room was packed and the talent this year has been so strong.

"Shermieanne just blew everyone away. She was overwhelmed to win it.

"We have done a rough count and we have raised in excess of £6,500."

The other seven finalists were Amy and The Twins, Dory Lee-Potter, Megan Wilson, The Young Assassins, Samual, Eva and Ellie, Viv Brooke and Louis Donovan.

Dancers, singers and even diabolo jugglers showcased the abundance of talent in the county at the first audition for 2016's Dorset's Got Talent in January as Weldmar Hospicecare Trust was again on the hunt for Dorset's brightest stars.

The competition was open exclusively to Dorset residents and people of all ages. Successful acts in the audition stages made it through to the semi-finals, held on Saturday, February 20 and Saturday, March 5.

During the semi-final, the audience voted for their favourite performance at £1 per vote, with all funds going to the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust.

Shermieanne was a strong contestant throughout the show, receiving a lot of positive feedback from her performances.

As the winner she received a £500 cash prize from Hive Beach Café, which alongside the Dorset Echo sponsored the event, and a holiday worth more than £1,000 from Freshwater Beach Holiday Park.

Katie added: "On top of that, Freshwater Beach Holiday Park announced that the winner and two runners-up will get to perform at the park during their summer breaks.

"I didn't know they were going to do that, it's fantastic news. They were all so happy and pleased, as they should be."

"We really did have some fantastic talent up there this year."