THE CITY already numbers international star Craig David among its famous sons - but could Wayne Mayers be Southampton's next big singing sensation?

Wayne took a major stride along the road to fame when he triumphed in Southampton's Urban Flava competition.

Held at St Mary's Stadium after a series of heats, the final pitted six of Southampton's most talented youngsters against each other with a shot at fame on offer to the winner.

Some of the music industry's top talent spotters and big-name Radio One DJs were on the judging panel and R'n'B singer Wayne knocked them out with his performance. He will now go on to record a track at Southampton Institute's recording studios and its record label First Degree.

The 21-year-old, originally from London, is currently studying fashion in Southampton. He cites his influences as Bilal & Di Anjalo and friends.

Judges included Radio One's Scott Mills and DJ Spoony of the Dreem Teem as well as George Roberts-Bascombe of Sony Records and Colin Leste of Wildstar Records.

More than 300 people turned out to watch the Fame Academy-style talent show in the stadium's Mick Channon suite.

The compeition was set up by the African Caribbean Centre and Southampton Institute and BBC South Roots. Urban Flava was open to city residents only and encompassed everything from ragga to drum 'n' bass. Youngsters in the final were given special training from local musicians ahead of the competition to fine-tune their acts.

Tony Broomes of the African Caribbean Centre in Trinity Road, the venue for the heats, said: "This project is a way of getting young people from different ethnic backgrounds to engage in activities that give them all a great deal of pleasure.

"The performances were all really well rehearsed. They all got the audience responding and the judges were impressed. One said to me he didn't think he would find an artist, but now he thinks he has.

"It was a big success and we hope to do it again next year," he added.

Meanwhile, there is a chance to win Craig David's Armani tour jacket by logging on to www.bbc.co.uk and taking part in a competition linked to the Urban Flava contest.