A SINGER and bingo hall employee from Barrow has been congratulated after her rendition of a classic musical theatre number nabbed her third place in an inaugural talent competition.

Mary Patrick impressed the voting public with her performance of ‘On My Own’ from hit musical Les Misérables.

The 23-year-old was performing in the final of Opera’s Got Talent, a competition held by Opera Bingo to spread a bit of cheer among staff members and the public while bingo halls remain closed.

Miss Patrick, who works at the company’s bingo hall in Barrow, said: “I’ve been performing since I was seven at the Forum.

“Having something put online that stays around is a lot different from going on stage.

“During lockdown, it’s just brought us all together.”

She said she had received messages of support from bingo hall customers saying how proud they were of her and that they had enjoyed her performances.

Miss Patrick performed ‘Let it Go’ from the Disney film Frozen in the heats of the competition.

In the final, she received 387 votes, 22 per cent of the total vote share.

She lost out to Vickie Harkness, from Carlisle, who sung one of her own songs, entitled ‘You'.

Carlisle-based artist Becky Wright came second with a time-lapse video showing her drawing her two-year-old daughter in pencil.

The results show and performances have been posted to the 'Opera Bingo Quiz Page' on Facebook.

Miss Patrick says it is likely she will enter the competition again if it is held next year.

“I’ll always say maybe until it gets there but I never miss a chance to perform!” she said.

Paul Holland, general manager of Opera Bingo in Barrow, said the bingo hall team was ‘very proud’ of Miss Patrick’s success in the competition.

“The reason behind the competition was so we could interact with our staff and members during this present lockdown,” he said.

“We believe it was vital, as this time it seems this was the hardest lockdown to date with the awful weather and the early dark nights during winter.

“Some of our members live alone, so to hear a friendly local voice cheers them up and makes them feel part of our Opera Bingo family.

“It was just the feel-good factor really, a bit of fun.

“And I’m sure the people that took part really enjoyed it.”