A CARNFORTH schoolgirl will be representing the North in the next round of the UK’s largest singing competition for teenagers.

After making it through to the Teenstar UK North West Final in Liverpool on March 9, Megan Stanford is now a whisker away from following in the footsteps of 2013 winner Luke Friend, who went on to have success on X Factor.

If she can beat off the competition at the North England and Scotland Final on May 18, the 14-year-old has the chance to perform at London’s O2 arena.

For her performance in the next round at Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music, Megan will perform a cover of Alex Clare’s ‘Too Close’.

Megan’s mum Anna said: “I’m so proud of her. She loves doing it and she’s taking it all in her stride, she’s cool as a cucumber.”