By Gareth Davies

gareth.davies@essnmedia.co.uk

Simon Cowell might have been prepared for a backlash from an angry mum after knocking back a young hopeful at a Britain's Got Talent audition, but judges from a local version of the competition certainly weren't expecting such a response when they selected their winners.

Jo Thorpe is so incensed her son Alfie, eight, did not make it through to the borough-wide grand final, she is calling on the judges to rethink their decision.

Little Alfie, from Netley Close, Fieldway, finished joint second alongside four other contestants in the New Addington's Got Talent contest.

This left the judges with an agonising decision on which two would join overall winners Charlotte Benson, 16, and Leanne Finch Tanner, 18, in the final.

They chose singers Reece McAra, 14, and Hannah deSilva, 16, leaving Wolsey Junior School pupil Alfie heartbroken.

Organiser Ken Sherwood, from Croydon Enterprise, stood by the decision, but Mrs Thorpe, 30, insists they got it wrong.

She explained: "I videoed the whole thing and he finished second. It's not fair that his hopes have been dashed.

"I'm very disappointed because Alfie had his heart set on being in the final.

"The male judge said that Alfie was confident, cool and charming.

"He told him he wanted to see him at Fairfield Halls and gave him top marks.

"He was better than two of the people who got through. One of the girls kept forgetting the words and the judges said she sang out of key."

The event, which was held during People's Day, on Milne Park, in June featured 12 acts from the estate.

After each performance the three judges – Fieldway councillor Carole Bonner, Matt Spencer from the Salvation Army and Croydon singer Lyanna Austin – talked each one through their performances.

Judge Matt Spencer said he had praised Alfie, who sang Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol, because he thought he was great.

For his part Alfie told the Advertiser: "I wasn't scared at all and I'll be back on that stage next summer."