TALENTED teenager Josh Hughes is determined to forge a singing career - and is just one step away from the final of a major event with a recording contract as the prize.

By Richard Cornwell

TALENTED teenager Josh Hughes is determined to forge a singing career - and is just one step away from the final of a major event with a recording contract as the prize.

For Josh it is a huge achievement as he battles daily with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

But when he steps on stage the ADHD vanishes and is replaced with confidence and passion, and a fine mature singing voice which has already won him many plaudits.

Now he is through to the semi-finals of the biggest talent contest outside TV's X-Factor, and has already got past 10,000 other singing hopefuls who took part in the auditions for South Coast Idol.

Josh, 16, of Felixstowe, will take part in a semi-final on March 12 and will be performing Michael Buble's song Home.

If he makes the final, he will stand the chance of winning the opportunity to work with Craig David's producer Mark Hill, record an album, and take part in a 50-gig tour.

The aim of the organisers Live and Unsigned is to get the winner signed to a major record label.

Josh's mum Paula Hughes, of Waveney Road, Felixstowe, said: “He is absolutely thrilled.

“It is brilliant to have got this far and we are all so proud of him.

“When he gets up on the stage to sing he is so focused and everyone who hears him cannot believe how mature his voice sounds.

“He has set his heart on a singing career and is so determined.”

Josh - who has a sister Sophie, 13, and four older step brothers - was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of seven. He began singing about seven years ago and loves all kinds of music - and has been inspired by the success of his fellow ADHD sufferer and chart-topper Daniel Bedingfield.

He has already won talent competitions while on holiday, including the Flix Factor on the Canary Islands, when he was the only child taking part against the adults.

He has grown enormously in confidence and self-esteem since moving to Parkside School in Ipswich and is currently practising for the Music for the World event at Snape. He is hoping to do a performance arts course next at Suffolk College.

n. What do you think of Josh's achievement? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk