A LEADING light in Northwich’s folk scene has won a coveted singer-songwriter award.

Pete Thompson, from Northwich Folk Club, won the Kerry Smith Memorial Singer-Songwriter Competition at Lymm Folk Club with his song 'The time is right for me', an autobiographical song about something that hasn’t happened yet.

This was the third time Pete had entered the contest and his first win.

"This year I had a strong tune and words that resonated with the audience and seemed to go down well when I sang it at Northwich Folk Club so I travelled in hope but didn’t expect to win," he said.

"Again there were a lot of good songs at the competition and there was a wide variety of style and content so it was a challenge for the judges to sort out a winner.

"It was a complete surprise when my name was announced as winner.

"Lymm’s competition is a great forum for people like me to present their songs and I am really buzzing that my song got the recognition this year."

The Lymm Folk Club Festival Singer Songwriter competition started in 2008 and was renamed in 2014 in memory of club member Kerry Smith who died earlier that year.

This year there were seven competitors and a jury of four who deliberated over the song presentation, lyrics and melody before picking Pete’s song as the winner.

Fellow Northwich Folk Club committee member Brenda Yates said: "We knew his song would be a strong contender as it is so appealing, you just can't get it out of your head - a catchy melody, a story worth listening to and an optimistic, up-beat theme.

"Pete is a very talented folk performer who does wonders for Northwich Folk Club.

"He works hard to create a varied programme of guest nights, special nights and singers' nights for every week of the year.

"He also leads workshops and contributes great enthusiasm to everything he does.

"We're very proud of his success in this competition."

Pete will be appearing at Lymm Folk Club to do a 'Big Spot' on July 30.