SINGERS and dancers of all ages queued up outside the Broadway Centre in the pouring rain for a chance to earn a place on Britain's Got Talent.

While judges Simon Cowell and David Walliams stayed away from the open auditions - and Ant and Dec were nowhere to be seen - a huge queue of performers stood outside an empty shop before they were allowed to show off their talent to producers.

The auditions were a far cry from the televised shows in front of thousands of fans in an impressive auditorium, but that did not stop people from turning up in their droves to try out for ITV's popular contest, which sees the winner peform at the Royal Variety Show.

Auditonees were invited into the room and were filmed performing for a producer sat behind a desk.

Amongst those hopeful of getting a call back was Faith Roberts, from Allerton.

Fifteen-year-old Faith queued up with her mum, Adele, before she was able to sing Christina Perri's Jar of Hearts.

"I think I did pretty well and I have a good chance of getting through," said the confident teenager.

"My mum said I did well and she is my number one fan.  She says I am Beyonce.

"I was very nervous going in, but I think I pulled it off.

"They said I seemed confident even though I was shaking."

Faith said she sings all the time, but came to the audition with only one thing on her mind.

She added: "Since I was young I have been bullied and this will show the bullies that I can be everything they said I can't and inspire others to do the same."

Several other schoolgirls were also hopeful of impressing the producers with their singing, including Lexie Markinson from Eccleshill.

The 11-year-old Hanson Academy pupil sang Eleven by Cassadee Pope.

She said: "The producer said it was a good song choice.

"I want to be a singer, so this was nerve wracking, but I did it."

Mum Lisa Donoghue added: "She is a member of Footsteps Theatre School and loves singing and dancing.

"February is the cut-off point and we will get an e-mail to say if she has been successful or not."

Away from the singers, Kiti Telang, 31, hoped to impress with her traditional Indian dance.

The software engineer said: "This is my hobby, but I have done this since my childhood.

"I really enjoyed the experience and they have taken my details.

"If I am successful they will be in touch."

Britain's Got Talent is set to air on ITV in 2019 and usually runs from April to June.