YOU could have heard a pin drop, singer Anthony Hughes said of his winning performance at the grand final of this year’s Talentcall competition.

The audience’s silence while he sang Kiss the Air by Scott Allen was only broken at the end by rapturous applause from an audience of over 1,200 people.

See Anthony's winning performance below and footage of the other finalists

Anthony, 17, a student at St Peter’s School, said he didn’t expect to win the contest which had 20 finalists, at the Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth.

“Afterwards everyone was just screaming.

“I didn’t expect it.

“I came out of the stage door afterwards and there was 100 people there!”

Anthony said he nearly didn’t enter the contest as he felt he was too busy doing other things, but was now glad he had.

“I went along to the auditions and everyone was really talented. I just took it from there.”

Iford resident Anthony is currently studying for an A-level in dance and a BTEC in performing arts at St Peter’s School, and has attended Swish of the Curtain drama school in Bournemouth since the age of 13.

The winner’s trophy now sits proudly in his lounge and he will put the £2,500 win towards tuition fees as he wants to pursue further training and a career in the theatre.

Anthony, the older brother to Ryan, 14, and Alicia seven, said his family including mum Debbie and dad Terry were very proud.

He applied to TV show X Factor at the beginning of the year but was not selected beyond the fourth round.

He said he felt the choices were being made more for entertainment than talent, and would not be keen to have a Simon Cowell sculpted career.