Around 400 people packed into Aldershot’s Princes Hall to see the cream of the area’s young performers take to the stage.

The Rushmoor Schools’ Got Talent event saw dancers, performance artists, bands and singers battle it out to be crowned champion of the inaugural contest, organised by officers from the borough’s local police beat teams and compered by North Camp sergeant Adam Henderson-Parish.

The winner was James Rowland from The Wavell School, whose Rat Pack-style rendition of My Way had the judges reaching for their top scores. Other acts included pupils from Wavell, Fernhill, Cove and Oak Farm schools.

Sgt Jon Turton, of the safer neighbourhoods policing team, said the judges were impressed at the standard of entries.

“I was quite taken back by the amount of preparation and the standard was really high,” he added. “The overall support from the schools was really welcome, as was the amount of effort the kids put into it.”

The organisers had been “blown away” by James’ Frank Sinatra-style voice, he added.

“It was absolutely fantastic. He came on and was very quiet, and it seemed to be quite a while before the music started. Then it began and he absolutely belted it out.”

Sgt Turton thanked the Princes Hall staff and manager David Phillips for their hard work, adding that it was hoped to put on a similar event in the future.