At 54, Frank Sinatra impersonator Steve Long is hoping the best is yet to come.

The Apperley Bridge crooner, who models himself on the Brat Pack singer, shocked a packed Kirkgate Shopping Centre by beating young heartthrobs to the top prize in a modelling competition.

He was only entered into Kirkgate’s Modelsearch contest as a joke to coax confidence out of his friend’s sister, another competitor Katie Phillips.

But Mr Long outshone younger rivals in the 16-plus age category to give himself a chance of clinching a modelling contract. Two males and females were selected from each of four age categories by a panel of expert judges to find the best of the 93 finalists in the Telegraph & Argus-backed competition at the Kirkgate Shopping Centre in Bradford yesterday.

Mr Long said: “A friend’s sister is in the competition and she wanted to give her a bit of support so her mum entered me without me knowing.

“I’m shocked. Who says life doesn’t begin at 50?”

Sheffield-based agency DK Models, which runs Modelsearch in conjunction with the Kirkgate Centre helped pick the winners and will offer one male and one female from the group representation by the company.

The other winners include Robert Volosyanko, nine, of Undercliffe, and Amber Cox, ten, of Odsal, who triumphed in the seven to ten-year-olds category.

Robert, a pupil at St Cuthbert’s & The First Martyrs’ Primary School, made it to the final alongside his brother Andres, 11. Their mother, Ukrainian, Maria Volosyanko, was thrilled with Robert’s win. She said: “I’m very proud and so excited.

“He got to the final last year but didn’t get through so we didn’t expect this.”

Alex Cox, of Odsal, whose daughter Amber wooed the judges, said: “I can’t believe it.

“Everyone was so good. I just think she’s got everything it takes. This is all she wants to do now.”

Winning in the four to six age group was Chloe Windle, five, of Bierley, and Harvey Dimbleby, four, of Wyke. Ryan Newall, 11, of Saltaire, and Poppy Jackson, 13, of Allerton, were victorious among the 11-to-15s. Bradford College performing arts student Victoria Ingham, 18, also dazzled the judges in the 16-plus group.

The winners shared £500 worth of shopping vouchers and prizes between them.

Former winners remain on DK Models’ books and some have gone on to feature in campaigns for Argos, DFS, Sports Direct and Vidal Sassoon.