WINNING a regional singing competition at his local pub has inspired Aidan Moore to apply for X Factor.

The 29-year-old business development manager, of Abbey Meads, was crowned the winner at a Marston Inns contest held at the Abbey Meads pub at the beginning of the month where he performed Nina Simone’s Feeling Good.

It was the first time he had performed in public and he has since been hired to sing at venues across the town.

“The performance was nerve-wracking but I was glad I had my guitar with me,” he said.

“If you’ve got your guitar you can play and sing whichever bits you like or speed things up or slow it down. If you are singing to a backing track there is no flexibilty.

“I used to sing when I was much younger and then I stopped. My fiancee bought me a guitar last year as my early wedding present and she got me back into it. I just thought I would have a go at this competition and I was fortunate enough to win it.”

He was picked out of 12 contestants as the winner by the audience and his success has inspired him to enter X Factor and the UK Open Mic competition. “I put my name down for X Factor. I don’t know whether I can win it,” he said.