SIX young people with North-East connections are chasing the dream of a year's contract as a presenter on Children's BBC.

Out of the hundreds who attended last Tuesday's Making It audition, at Newcastle's Odeon Cinema, the six were invited to go forward to the next round in London.

They are Claire Burke, 25, of Fenham, Newcastle; Emily Clinch, 22, Buckinghamshire; Alexandra Jane Edgar, 20, Newcastle; Emma Mainland, 22, York; Francisca Mendes, 19, Leicester, and Nicola Panchoo, 21, Heaton, Newcastle.

They join 40 other hopefuls who will be whittled down to ten main contenders on Monday and Tuesday.

The ten will feature in a three-week TV programme, filming in August, along the lines of Big Brother. They will share a house and be tested on their ability.

The eventual winner may end up with his or her own show.

Newcastle entrants may well see themselves on television after BBC talent spotters rated the packed audition as one of the strongest.

Contestants from London, Bridgend, Glasgow, Liverpool and Belfast are also taking part.

The BBC talent hunt is covering every aspect of TV, film and radio and more details are available from www.bbc.co. uk/talent

The next visit to the region is the search for five online presenters for BBC1. The Virgin Megastore, Newcastle, will host auditions on June 9, 10 and 11.

Applicants, who must be over 18, can just turn up on the day.