TALENTED performers from across the county showed they had their very own X-factor this weekend.

From a pop-punk band to a rock guitarist, from body-popping dancers to a jazz ensemble and every kind of vocalist from swing to soprano, the top 14 acts from weeks of heats took to the stage to prove that Herefordshire’s (really) Got Talent.

And most talented of all was remarkable 11-year-old singer/guitarist Rory Naylor, who took the prize with his performance of Sarah Mac-lachan’s Arms of an Angel.

After the success of last year’s fund-raising show, which presented the best of the city’s school pupils entertaining a packed auditorium, the competition was widened to include members of the public aged from eight to 80 from right across the area.

And they auditioned in their droves. Two whole Sundays were dedicated to whittling down the contestants to the top 14, who then showed off their stuff to a panel of judges at Sunday night’s show at the Courtyard, which raised money for the theatre’s community projects and also for Megan Baker House.

Compere for the night was Andrew Easton of BBC Hereford and Worcester.

The judges were 2Faced Dance director Tamsin Fitzgerald, actor, script-writer and director Lindsay Maples, Anthony Murphy – aka rapper/ producer Mouthmaster Murf of successful hip-hop band the Anomalies – Courtyard board chairman Roger Morgan and Hereford Times editor Fiona Phillips.

They deliberated, cogitated and digested an amazing array of talent that provided a feast for a very appreciative audience.

First up was band Between the Lines, performing their own composition The Theory.

They were followed by solo vocalists Hannah Davies, John Landers and Georgia Nixon-Cadwall-ader. Dance group Transition was up next with young guitarist Freddie Brandt bringing the first half to a close.

The second act opened with Unlike Jazz and their own composition A Stroll Down Edgar Street. Singer Stephanie James was followed by swing vocalist Gilder Smith and then dancer Emma Dolloway.

Singers Josh James and Natalie Holman brought the second half to a close with Rory performing the final number.

Rory, enthusiastically supported by his family from Ledbury, will now go on to perform at the brand new AirFest music festival at Chepstow Racecourse between June 2 and 5 as well as taking a cash prize and trophy for Sunday night’s win.