Deal's own drummer sensation Kieran Gaffney was back behind his school desk at Walmer Science College on Tuesday after a hectic whistle-stop tour following his Britain's Got Talent success.

He came third in the ITV national contest and has been performing with other winners in cities in Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland, ending on Sunday with a performance at the London O2 Centre.

Kieran, of Clarence Place, who is 14 on Sunday, said: "It was really, really good and really, really fun. Every place I played at was brilliant, with a different crowd each time."

His mum Mandy said: "Kieran loved it! I travelled with him and Belfast was mad, with screaming fans and even people running after the bus.

"But it was back to Walmer Science College on Tuesday, although he did have lots of school work to do while on tour."

The drummer rose to fame after coming third in the final of Britain's Got Talent in June when he impressed the judges Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden with his show-stopping performance of the drum part of the classic 1960s tune Wipeout.

* For full story, and to find out where Kieran is playing next, buy the East Kent Mercury this week.