Dozens of hopefuls turned out at the Hazlitt Theatre in Earl's Street tonight in the first round of auditions for Britain's Got Talent.

Soulful singers, an Irish dance troupe and a comedian were among the 29 acts that set out to impress BGT producers and gain a coveted place in the 2016 competition.

Among them was 20-year-old Stephen Wright, who said he has overcome health problems including Aspergers and diabetes to pursue his dreamt-of career on the stage.

He said: "I just feel that when I am on the stage that this was where I was meant to be.

"Ever since I beat my stage fright I always felt I could succeed. My parents have always been so supportive, they have always helped me to get out there and do it and they give me confidence.

"I just want to show to people that no matter who if you are if you value a dream enough you can fulfill it."

Proud mum Christine Wright, 50, added: "He is a very creative person and he loves singing. I think he will do so well if that is what he wants to do."

The evening also saw performances by the senior and intermediate group of Mandy Ellen Performing Arts students, as well as younger students Aimee Newland and Lottie Cook.

Aimee said: "Performing was really good I was really excited. I have always wanted to appear on Britain's Got Talent.

"I have watched it for a long time and I have lots of friends who watched it too."

There were performances from Razzamataz Theatre School Maidstone's Yasmin Bettsworth,13, and Theodora Harlin,12 with a cheerleader dance they had choreographed themselves, as well as nine-year-old singer Ruby Fryer from Headcorn.

Other performers included Shaneypop (Shane Morgan), a sales assistant from Maidstone who devotes his spare time to creating videos of his zany comedic characters, poetry and artwork for his website shaneypopsworld.com and his Youtube account.

He said: "I was a little bit nervous at the start but you find that you go into autopilot. If you can get it right comedy is great, but comedic sketches are a bit of a dying art. It would be great for more people to see what I am doing, it would make all the years I have been doing this worth it."

Previous Kent notables on BGT include Maidstone dancer Joe Stribley, who got to the 2015 semi-finals with five-piece tap group The Beat Brothers; and Jack Pack swing band member Andam Chandler, from Eccles and Maidstone's own Lily Vincent-Frankland, who starred as part of a 26-strong troupe The Addict Initiative, who both reached last year's final.