IT’S an event that really puts the sing into Basingstoke – and now there is a new champion.

Natasha Mulvey has been crowned the winner of this year’s Festival Factor competition, held for the first time in The Anvil front of 200 people.

Thirty-eight-year-old Natasha wowed the judging panel with her rendition of Whitney Houston’s Where Do Broken Hearts Go and she will now headline the Basingstoke Variety Show and Festival Place’s Christmas lights switch-on.

She said: “It just doesn’t feel real – I feel very lucky.”

The final of the singing contest is usually held in Festival Place shopping centre but this year organisers decided to hold it at the showcase Basingstoke venue, giving away free tickets for people to come along and cheer on their favourite act.

Natasha, a married mother of one from Chineham, said: “Singing at The Anvil was the real prize for me. Getting to go up and sing where so many great artists have performed was a real joy.”

The competition was split into three categories – under-16s, 17 to 24s and the over 25s. The three finalists from each category then went head-to-head in three sing-offs.

Under-16s winner Freya Collingston and 17 to 24s champ Tom Rampton, who were overall runners-up, were each presented with vouchers for La Tasca restaurant and Dawsons music, as well as a £50 Virgin Media handset.

On the judging panel were Christine Bradwell, chief executive of Anvil Arts, Claire Holmes, director of You Rock Music Schools, Tanya Schipelbaum, director of Basingstoke Academy of Dancing, Christophe Jacob, manager of Dawsons Music and Kestrel FM DJ Pete Denton.

Former Festival Factor winner – and a star of this year’s Britain’s Got Talent contest – Lauren Thalia also performed at the event.

Head judge Claire said: “The night was amazing. There is so much talent here in Basingstoke. We really had a very difficult time choosing a winner.”

Theresa Chapman, events manager at Festival Place, which organises Festival Factor, said: “This year’s Festival Factor has been a fantastic success.

“I am so pleased we have been able to showcase the phenomenal local talent and really put the sing back in to Basingstoke.

“Every one of our finalists did a superb job.”