A BUDDING singer is making progress in a county-wide contest.

Lucy Closiers, of Dunmow Close in Loughton, was among more than 1,000 hopefuls who applied to The Essex Factor competition earlier this year.

The 14-year-old Roding Valley High School pupil is now one of just 18 contestants remaining in the competition and is getting ready to sing in the fourth round tomorrow (Sunday) in Basildon.

So far she has wowed judges with her renditions of Daniel Bedingfield's 'I Gotta Get Through This' and tracks by Canadian singer Avril Lavigne.