AIRPORT worker Mark Kerins wowed the nation to win a television talent show - and booked himself a slot with top pop band Steps.

On Saturday, Mark, 24, who works at Leeds Bradford International Airport, managed to beat off the opposition on BBC's live show Star for a Night.

And he also impressed the teen band Steps so much that they offered him the chance to support them at London's Wembley Arena at a future concert.

With his head in his hands and with tears in his eyes, Mark, who lives in Wyke, Bradford, was pronounced winner by a landslide victory.

With a staggering 153,914 votes, he defeated 11 other contestants and beat his nearest rival by more than 30,000 votes.

And after they heard the result, Steps contacted the show to offer him a supporting slot on their Greatest Hit Tour at Wembley.

Mark, who performed Bill Withers' classic Lean on Me, said: "I'm absolutely ecstatic - it's such fantastic news.

"I nearly dropped dead when they said how many votes I had, it just didn't register until I saw my family and I think I swore.

"It was very painful having to wait until the other eight contestants results were read out to see if I had won.

"I want to thank all those who voted for me. It is just such an amazing feeling to win. I have been in talks with some record companies so hopefully this will help me get signed."

Mark, who works for the airport's Servisair, also won the praise of boy band Westlife.

The band's Nicky Byrne said: "Mark had a very powerful voice and he deserved to win. He really won over the crowd."

Mark was chosen from more than 12,000 applicants to take part in the show presented by singer Jane McDonald.

It is his dream to appear on Top of the Pops, but during an earlier appearance on the show, Take That manager Nigel Martin-Smith warned him he was too overweight.

Since then, Mark has lost two stone in weight after following an exercise and healthy eating regime.

Mr Martin-Smith said: "I hope a record producer rushes him into the studio to record a big gospel-style Christmas single."

Mark is due to perform at Pennington Live Nightclub, Bradford, on November 15 when he will be supporting comic Billy Pearce.