A WOLVERLEY High School student has been crowned the best male solo singer at a countywide competition.

Chris Lewis, who lives in Wolverley, performed Green Day's American Idiot at the Worcestershire Pop Icons 2006 final held at the Forum, Malvern Theatres on Thursday, last week.

Twenty-one young performers from across Worcestershire took to the stage, including Chris's fellow pupils, Jack Roberts, 15, who performed Jack Johnson's Sitting, Waiting, Wishing and Sonia Benbow, 15, who sang Vanessa Calton's A Thousand Miles.

The A-level student, who is studying music, German, English and drama, said he was really surprised and pleased to have won.

He said the performance went well, adding: "It was nerve-wracking but it was great fun when I was on stage. I am definitely going to enter next year."

The 16-year-old said he had not decided if he wanted to sing professionally but said: "If a chance came up, I would take it."

Chris, who sings with a ska band and a group called Pop Pickers, won a £50 voucher for music tuition and a keyboard for his school.

His school music teacher Fred Mallinson said: "He was really good. He had a lot of support from family and friends."