A MUM of two is hoping to pave her way to the West End by taking part in Derby's answer to the X Factor.

Jemma Shaw was one of 28 acts who yesterday faced a panel of judges in the latest round of the city's talent contest called Fame Factor.

A dance group called Trinity, whose hip-hop routine was choreographed by Britain's Got Talent finalist Paul 'Steady' Steadman, also performed at the Assembly Rooms for the industry experts.

The acts were invited to come back after being selected from 70 who entered the first round of Derby Live's Fame Factor last month.

Yesterday's event was a boot camp-style session where the acts were given advice and tips on their routines, as well as four entries being knocked out of the competition.

Jemma, who performed a song from Disney's The Little Mermaid, was told to select a more mature number for her next performance.

The final 24 will take part in two live heats at the Assembly Rooms on September 9 and 10, ahead of the live final on September 11.

The winner of the competition will appear alongside Neil Morrissey in the Christmas pantomime, Cinderella.

Beautician Jemma, whose dream is to perform in shows at the West End, was cheered on by her partner, Ricardo Deabreu, and their two children, Luca, three, and Emilio, five.

"I only got the music from my singing teacher yesterday, so I was a little bit nervous," said Jemma, of Etwall.

"But when you are on the stage, it feels like it is just you out there by yourself. Singing is what I have always wanted to do since I was a little girl."

The panel of experts, which included the producer of the pantomime, Paul Holman, and co-producer John Ogle, were impressed with Jemma's performance of the Disney classic Part of Your World, but said she should choose a different song for the next round.

Panellist Fiona Watson, from drama training organisation Television Workshop, said: "A more mature song would suit your voice better."

Up next was 15-year-old Chloe Harris.

The Chellaston School pupil sang Astonishing, from the film Little Women, and received high praise from the judges.

Derby actor Kevin Baines, who will be playing one of the ugly sisters in Cinderella and was also on the panel, said: "I thought it was absolutely wonderful. You are going to be a big star in the West End one day."

Chloe, who went to the auditions with her mum, Alison, said she hoped to study singing and drama at university in the future.

"I have been singing and dancing for quite a while," she said. "I was a little bit nervous before I performed. I would love to one day be in a musical on the West End."

Despite losing two of their original line up to illness, hip-hop dance group Trinity still managed to deliver an exciting, fast-tempo performance.

The foursome, made up of Nanci Thompson, 18, of Aston-on-Trent; Naili Jones, 18, of Alvaston; Michael 'MJ' Richards, 17, of Littleover; and Natalie Moore, 18, also of Alvaston, are all members of the Derby Academy dance school in Linton Street.

After deliberations by the judges, letters will be sent to the entrants telling them whether they have made it to the live finals stage.