IT was a different kind of shopping experience for people out and about in Erith's Riverside Shopping Centre this week, when they found themselves being serenaded by a variety of hopefuls.

The event was all part of the centre's monthly Star awards, and this month it was looking for Erith's Pop Star winner.

People were invited to step up to the microphone and belt out one of their favourite songs, karaoke-style, to the entertainment of members of the public.

More than 30 people were willing to put their singing talents to the test, but in the end it was 72-year-old Sylvia Le Brocq, singing an Abba song, Chiquitita, who pipped all the others to the title and the engraved Star award.

A great fan of karaoke she and her pals are often out seven nights a week at karaoke events.

Runners up were George Adams, 11, who turned up with his acoustic guitar and sang About A Girl by Nirvana, and Frank Peters, 72, who performed Guy Mitchell's 1950s classic, Singing the Blues.

Mr Peters is also a serial performer, having appeared in the preliminary rounds of the X Factor and other competitions.

All three won vouchers to use in shops at the centre.