A CWMBRAN singer has made it through to the regional finals of a UK-wide singing competition as he battles to win an album deal.

Ben Jenkins, 27, qualified for the next stage of Open Mic 2009 competition where he will go head-to-head with the best Wales and the South West of England has to offer.

Mr Jenkins, of The Alders, Llanyravon, volunteers at Pontypool-based radio station Able Radio where he works with disabled people and at weekends, he sings at private and corporate events.

He entered alongside 10,000 others and will go in front of a judging panel and audience in Bristol on October 31.

The winner of the competition, ru by Future Music, will record their own album and get to go on tour.

Mr Jenkins has been singing for more than ten years and his style is a mixture of swing and jazz music, drawing on inspiration from artists such as Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and Michael Buble.

"It's the music I love and I hope the passion comes through in my singing. It would be amazing if I won, it's a fantastic opportunity to have a crack at doing it professionally and see if the public like me."