IT WAS only a few months ago when Swindon’s Clifford Hewer discovered he had a unusual talent – he can sing with a bottle or a cereal bowl in his mouth.

Clifford, 75, from Walcot, has one ambition – to appear on television in front of talent judge Simon Cowell.

He said: “My neighbours said why not get on TV?

“I would like to do my different voices and bird song.”

He says that a few months ago one of his friends noticed that he could speak without moving his lips which was how he found he could sing with a bottle in his mouth.

The singer visits Butlins at Maidenhead every Christmas for 10 days and goes for a four-week summer holiday at Minehead.

He said: “I have a DVD that they recorded at Butlins of me singing with a basin in my mouth.”

Clifford is retired now but worked for 41 years in the Wiltshire Enterprise Works.

Clifford is registered as handicapped because he suffers from epilepsy but he says disabilities should not be a bar to doing what you want in life.

“Just because people are handicapped doesn’t mean they should be ignored or that they don’t have a talent.’’ he said.

He says that many people with physical or learning disabilities are too scared to push themselves forward in something like a talent show, but is determined to prove that there is nothing to be afraid of. He said: “Get out and do it. Don’t think of being disabled. Do what you like to do.’’ He will be taking part in the Old Town Festival heat of Swindon Talent ’10.