TALENTED young people from Worcestershire and Herefordshire have been enjoying a taste of fame in an X Factor-style contest.

West Mercia Housing Group has hosted the competition for its residents, including those with Worcestershire-based Nexus Housing and Hereford shire-based Kemble Housing.

The semi-finalists, whose talents range from trampolining to ballet, street dance and football, spent a day being pampered at a professional photographer’s studio.

Their pictures make up West Mercia Housing Group’s 2009 calendar – which doubles as the organisation’s annual report – and will be sent out to all its residents this month.

The acts will now go through to a final to win £250 to pursue their talent through lessons, coaching or new kit.

Worcestershire’s hopes for the final include singer Tara Hardwick, aged 23, of Blackpole, Worcester, Ryan Priest, aged 13, of the Spennells, Kidderminster and dancing trio Brodie Rossiter, Alisha Howard and Kealy Scott, all aged 10 and from Warndon, Worcester. Herefordshire’s hopes include Belmont resident Hannah Davies, aged 14, who sang a version of Mariah Carey’s Hero to get to the last round and 10-year-old ballerina Lucy Lock, from Hereford.

Residents from West Mercia Housing now have the task of picking the winner from a DVD showcase of the acts, which will be packaged up with the calendars.

Katie Summers, marketing assistant for West Mercia Housing Group, helped judge the contest. She said: “Taking part in the photo shoot was an empowering experience for the young people as many had never had a chance to show off their talents.

“Combining a talent show with our calendar for 2009 and West Mercia’s 2008 annual report seemed an ideal way of celebrating our talented residents and the achievements of the group this year.

“We would like all of our customers to get involved in selecting a winner by watching the clips and picking their favourite.

“Taking part is easy and entertaining – you just need to pop the disc into a DVD player, sit back, enjoy, then let us know your winner online or by post.”

West Mercia Housing Group residents aged over 16 can vote at wmhousing.co.uk or by post with the freepost card in the calendar, by Friday, January 30. The winners will be announced in February.