Young entertainers have been snatching up the opportunity to showcase their abilities in a new county talent show.

Audition places have almost run out for the Talent Oxford competition, with almost 200 youngsters from across the county signed up.

A panel of expert judges will select 16 finalists after two rounds of auditions next Saturday and Sunday.

They will record a charity single and perform at Oxford’s Cowley Road Carnival, before going on to perform in front of a live audience and celebrity judge Rachel Adedeji, from last year’s X Factor, at the October final The acts will be placed in five categories – Best Dance Act, Best Vocal Act, Best Group Act, Most Original Act and Aspiring Star Award.

Founder of Talent Oxford, Lydiah Igweh, said she wanted to give local people a platform to perform.

She said: “It is a collective celebration of our talent, bringing primary, secondary and state schools together.

“We have had bands, musicians, dancers, impressionists, comedians, and even martial artists sign up.

“At the moment there are only 15 places left.”

She said the audition would be friendly and a chance for the acts to get a professional opinion, and added: “We want them to enjoy the moment and get industry expert advice.”

Dance teacher Kelly Chandler will be one of the four judges at the auditions.

She said: “It is about them having fun and showing us what they can do. I know there is a lot of talent in Oxford but there are not many places where they can showcase it.”

Ciaran Vinten, 14, a pupil at St Gregory the Great in Oxford will be singing Peter Andre’s Mysterious Girl.

He said: “I’ve entered talent contests before such as Britain’s Got Talent and this is a really good opportunity to carry on my dream of becoming a famous singer. I think I’ve got talent and I don’t want it to go to waste.”