A SINGER from Salisbury is hoping a national contest will be the next rung on the ladder to achieving her dream.

Shannon Coombs, 19, has won a coveted place in the final of the Open Mic competition, to be held at the IndigO2 arena in London on January 19.

She said: “It’s amazing to get through to the final and I’m really shocked. I came off the stage at the area final crying because I really thought I’d mucked it up.

“I’m nervous about the final because such a lot is depending on it. It could mean I get to live my dream.”

The area final for the west was held in Portsmouth on December 9 and just four out of the 22 that made it through from local auditions were picked to go on to the finals.

Coombs, a teaching assistant at Exeter House, sang Alicia Keys’ If I Aint Got You but hasn’t yet decided on the song she will sing in London.

“I am allowed to sing a song I’ve performed before or I can pick something else. I’m not sure what I’ll do yet because the choice of the song is very
important.”