THE PROUD father of a gifted young musician has been handed an early Christmas present after watching his son triumph in the final of an Exmouth talent contest.

It is the fourth year the town’s open-door ICE (Initiative in Christian Education) Project has run the competition which showcases the talents of 11 to 18-year-olds.

This year, two singers, two instrumental acts, two dance acts, one theatrical act and one gymnast were all vying for the top spot having qualified for the final from auditions which took place earlier this month.

James’ thrilled dad, David, 46, said: “It was only last year that he started to learn how to play the guitar. He’s developed so much in a short space of time.

“I was so nervous watching him. He was overcome with emotion when he found out that he’d won and didn’t expect it at all.”

Mr Freer joked: “What I’m hoping now is that he will go on and enter Britain’s Got Talent and win that competition so I can quit my job as manager of the Exmouth Boots’ store and become his manager.”

James won by performing a song entitled Whistle For The Choir, a track made famous by The Fratellis, in front of more than 200 people.

The event’s organisers, the open-door ICE Project, aims to support Exmouth’s young people in their physical, social and spiritual development.

As well as the talent contest, The ICE team runs various activities and clubs including a large social action project at Easter and the Big Trouble summer camp.

John Prockter, project leader from the open-door ICE Project, said: “As the main organiser of this event it is hard for me not to be completely ecstatic with how it went.

“The feedback from people was it was the best event we have ever done. All the acts were fantastic.

“I have been watching back the DVD and all the weekend I was buzzing.”