Twelve top entertainment stars of the future are getting ready to battle it out at the grand final of the St Albans’ Got Talent contest on Halloween night.

Pop singers, street dancers and a ballet trio are among the acts who will be hoping to claim the top prize when they perform at the Alban Arena.

Money raised from the spooktacular event will go towards the project to create a new museum and art gallery in the heart of the city.

Some 11 acts qualified through heats while the other contender was a wild card selected by the public from a 25-strong field in an online vote.

At the last count, the leading act had received more than 4,000 votes, and lines to vote have now closed.

A panel of four judges will give positive professional comments to the performers during the show and will then select the winner.

To add to the atmosphere, the audience is being invited to turn up as ghosts, ghouls and other supernatural beings.

And the best Halloween-themed fancy dress will win two tickets for this year’s Arena pantomime performance of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The winner’s prize will include one one-to-one consultation with a top London talent agency, Top Hat, and a professionally-produced video from Chiswell Studios. The winner will also perform at the St Albans’ Christmas lights switch-on on Sunday November 27 in front of thousands of people.

Tickets for the grand finale on Monday October 31 are still available from the Arena box office, costing £10 each.

The Mayor of the City and District of St Albans, Councillor Frances Leonard, will be present in the audience on the night.

She said: “I am thrilled at the prospect of watching all these talented young people from around the district perform and compete against each other.

“It is going to make for a really memorable Halloween night although I will be wearing nothing too scary myself. I would urge people to buy a ticket, dress up as something frightening and come along. It’s not to be missed.”