TALENTED performers showed their star quality in a sizzling round of the Echo Search for a Star competition.

Thirteen acts vied for the top slots in last night's heat, but the best was saved for last with the final two performances of the night scooping first places in adult and junior categories.

Winner of the adult section was boy band Southern Edge and duo Charlotte Steen and Mark Bowden came first in the junior division.

More than 100 people packed the ballroom at the Prince Regent Hotel in Weymouth to enjoy the entertainment.

Southern Edge got the audience rocking with renditions of Ronan Keating's When You Say Nothing At All and You Make Me Wanna by singer Usher.

The trio - Liam Deeney, 21, from Portland, Phil Sansom, 18, from Poole, and David Days, 22, from Weymouth - formed the group after meeting at a talent contest in Weymouth Pavilion.

Phil said: "I'm really surprised we won. This is only the third ever live performance we have done together."

Charlotte, 15, from Weymouth, and Mark, 15, from Dorchester, were popular winners in the junior category.

They duetted on the song Endless Love, made famous by Diana Ross and Lionel Ritchie, followed by an upbeat Grease medley accompanied by three backing singers.

Budmouth Technology College student Charlotte said: "We're really looking forward to the final."

Runner-up in the adult category was Samantha James, 31, from Weymouth, and second place for the juniors went to Claudette Blundell, 16, from Weymouth, who wowed the audience with a powerful cover version of Christina Aguilera's song Beautiful.

Organiser Lee Carroll, entertainment manager at Weymouth's Riviera Hotel, congratulated all the contestants - 12 singing acts and one comedian, Arthur Lovaty.

Mr Carroll said: "This was the strongest heat we've had. It was red-hot and very close. There was some amazing talent and it looks like there's going to be one hell of a final."

The final will be held at The Prince Regent Hotel on November 12.