A YOUNG songwriter who used YouTube to learn the guitar has wowed the judges of a national singing competition.

Leah Haworth started off playing a Spongebob Squarepants guitar at the age of eight, and several instruments later, she’s made it through to the regional heats of the Teen Star singing competition.

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The 14-year-old, of St Peter’s Close, Darwen, is too busy to attend the North West heats in Manchester, as she will be opening the Darwen Live festival on May 24, but will be allowed to attend the Yorkshire heat in Huddersfield.

The DACA pupil writes and sings her own songs, and was selected as a winner in the preliminary rounds, which were held at the Royal Northern School of Music in Manchester.

She said: “I used to sing lots of karaoke growing up and then I was given this Spongebob guitar when I was eight.

“I used to be really shy at school but I don’t care anymore. I think the music helped me a bit.

“When I first performed in front of lots of people at the Darwen Library Theatre it was nerve-wracking, but not as bad as I thought.”

She will compete in Huddersfield on May 31, by singing the self-composed Gift of Life.

Her mum, Elaine, 48, said: “This was the first competition she’s entered. She always liked singing but was always quite shy.

“But suddenly she’s turned a corner and got all this confidence from somewhere. It’s amazing and I don’t know how she’s done it.

“She taught herself on YouTube and now she’s writing all her own songs.”

Leah’s idols are Taylor Swift, Kacey Musgraves and Katy Perry and she also attends the Elite School of Music in Blackburn Road.

The Teen Star competition promises to help develop contestants with music industry feedback and live performance experience in some of the UK’s major venues.

It also offers thousands of pounds worth of prizes.