A LEIGH youngster will be performing at the O2 in front of hundreds for the grand final of a national singing competition.

Maicie Rayner, 13, will be competing in the final against 30 others at the London stadium for the Open Mic UK grand final.

She beat stiff competition in three other rounds to get through to the finals, performing Thinking Bout You by Dua Lipa at the Hayes Theatre, Middlesex, for the semi-finals which secured her the spot in the grand final.

Maicie said: “I didn’t think I’d make it!

“I’m looking forward to having a bigger audience at the final.”

Maicie started singing lessons at the age of 11 and is taught by vocal coach Maria Nayler.

Her mother, Jane Whiting, 46, said: “She’s always sang, ever since she could walk.

“We’re so proud of her. She has done really well.

“She’s very grateful and can’t believe she has got here but she needs to be proud of herself as this is a big achievement.

“If anything, she has gained confidence from this experience and we’re with her the whole way.”

This is Maicie’s second music competition, and she previously auditioned for the Voice Kids earlier this year.

She did really well, but unfortunately didn’t make it to the live shows.

Each stage of Open Mic UK is reviewed by a grand panel of judges from across the music industry, with last year’s panel including judges from Modest Management, Universal Music and Sony.

Open Mic UK attracts more than 10,000 acts every year from across the UK.

Talent scouts often attend the competition in the hope of finding the next big thing.

Winners of the Open Mic UK will be decided at the grand finals on January 20 next year.

The winner will receive studio time to record their debut album and a video for the best single, along with extensive media promotion from a professional PR company and there are also runner-up prizes.

For more information about the contest, visit openmicuk.co.uk