AN AMATEUR musical theatre company took one more step towards stardom by supporting an X Factor winner in front of a capacity crowd.

Wings Productions from Shoreham were invited to warm up the crowd by performing five songs ahead of a headline slot by Sam Bailey.

The X Factor star appeared at the Assembly Hall in Worthing on Saturday night (November 19).

Wings were hoping to get good luck messages from celebrities ahead of their own forthcoming charity show but Sam's management went one better and offered the budding singers a spot on stage.

This meant their talents were projected to a sell-out crowd of almost 800 people.

Jenny Milner, one of the group's leading members, told The Argus: "Our set ran as smoothly as we could have hoped and Sam's concert was incredible.

"We had a really good response and were all so pleased it went so well.

"We had a lot of friends and family who came along to support us.

"As a small group it's the biggest crowd we have ever played to."

The group got to meet Sam, who paid them her compliments.

Miss Milner, who lives in Portslade, said: "We did our soundcheck and then we met her.

"She was absolutely lovely, and said she heard our soundcheck and liked it."

Wings gave the audience renditions of songs from classic West End musicals such as the Sound of Music and The Lion King, performed as a medley. Two of the group performed a song from the Jekyll & Hyde musical with three others singing a piece from Shrek The Musical. The group finished with a song from Miss Saigon called Bui Doi.

The concert raised £256 for Children In Need and the group – with members aged from 16 to 90 – has another concert lined up to raise more money for the charity.

Miss Milner, 25, who is studying film at the University of Sussex, was one of a small group who took over the running of Wings in 2011 after its founder, Des Young, had to take a back seat through poor health.

Wings was set up to raise money for Children In Need and Miss Milner says that will continue with a concert next year.

But before that, Wings have been invited to support Sam Bailey again – this time at a show in Aldershot, Hampshire, on May 4.

Miss Milner added: "The fact we get to do it again and make as much for charity as we can is amazing."

The next Sussex performance of Wings is at The Barn Theatre in Southwick from July 5 to July 8.

To follow Wings on Twitter search @Wings_2005 or find Wings Productions on Facebook.