THREE more youngsters from the Bradford area are in the final of a prestigious talent competition, it has been announced.

Oscar Hazell, Amelia Elgie and Gina Boyle will take part in the Performing Arts Festivals Championships, which are being held in Pontefract on Saturday, September 12.

Each of the trio were selected for the final from their own Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire regional competition.

The championships feature three categories - dance, music, speech and drama - and the winners in each will receive £100 and a trophy.

Oscar was chosen by the Bingley Robertshaw Festival's speech and drama section. The 15-year-old, of Hirst Mill Crescent in Shipley, has been a member of Stage 84 in Idle since he was nine years old.

A spokesman for the competition said: "He regularly appears in shows and this year has been performing as Mr Bumble in the musical, Oliver, performing at the Edinburgh Festival. He loves performing the classics, too, and regularly takes part in the Shakespeare Festival, this year playing Henry V.

"Oscar is a keen violinist and plays with Bradford Youth Orchestra, last year touring with them in Germany. In his spare time he enjoys climbing, sailing and reading. He has a keen interest in the natural world and one of his ambitions is to study natural history at university and then go on to research and make documentaries for the BBC Natural History Unit. His other ambition is to be an actor."

Amelia is also a member of Stage 84 and also performed in Oliver at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She has been with the school for seven years and has featured in Starlight Express at Bingley Arts Centre.

The 14-year-old, of Station Street, Pudsey, is a pupil at Pudsey Grangefield School. She was chosen by the Bingley Robertshaw Festival's music section.

Amelia also takes classes in singing, speech and drama, and performing arts.

Thirteen-year-old Gina, of Low Laithe Fold, Keighley, was chosen by the Wharfedale Festival of Performing Arts' speech and drama section.

A spokesman for the competition said: "She really enjoys drama, dance, writing and singing. She has been at Stage 84 for four years and really enjoys it. She attends Beckfoot School where she is doing well, and she loves her school life.

"Her ambition is to get into a stage school.

The spokesman added: "This year will mark the 12th such event of which we, the organisers, are justly proud."