TWO budding pop stars will sing their hearts out to compete for the coveted title of Worcestershire Pop Icon 2007.

Hanley Castle School pupil Izzy Cordey and Dyson Perrins sixth-former Laura Leeson have made the finals of the county-wide competition run by Worcestershire Arts Education.

Seventeen-year-old Izzy will perform Etta James' soul classic I Just Wanna Make Love To You, before judges and an audience at the Artrix in Bromsgrove, on Tuesday evening, March 13. No stranger to appearing in the limelight, Izzy wowed crowds at the age of 11 when she sang at the Millennium Dome in London.

She also competed in last year's Pop Icon competition and hopes to get even further this year.

"I'm really looking forward to performing, I've been practising lots, not quite with a hairbrush in front of the mirror, but something like that," said Izzy, from Callow End.

Dedicated Dysons choir member Laura Leeson has been practising intensively ahead of her performance.

Music teacher Grace Elliott said: "Laura has a beautiful soprano voice and has been a member of the choir for at least four years.

"We're delighted that she's made it into the finals."

Both schools celebrated success in the competition last year, with Dysons' Abigail Smith and Georgia Francis winning their category and Hanley's Cassie Rule scooping an award for her performance.

Norana Burstow, of Worcestershire Arts Education, said last year's event was a great success.

"I'd encourage people to come and watch. It's a fantastic evening," she said. The event begins at 7.30pm. For tickets, call 01527 577330.