A GROUP of talented performers from Bolton showed they had the X-Factor when they performed at Disneyland Paris.

And if the performing arts students from Taylor’s Theatre Academy needed a sign that they were going to be real showstoppers, they received it in the form of talent show judge Simon Cowell.

The group bumped into the X-Factor mogul the day before they were due to perform at Disneyland’s Videopolis Theater.

The academy based in Ainsworth Lane had been chosen by Disney judges to stage a show after a successful audition.

Stacey Taylor, who runs the school with Julie Ashton, said: “We had 20 young people performing in the show, aged from five-years-old to 18. The day before the show, the children spotted Simon Cowell, who was there with his family.

“He was so good with the children, they were talking to him, giving him hugs. They asked him if he would come to the show and he asked if they were actually performing at Disneyland and he told them they would be absolutely fantastic.”

Before their show, the young people worked with a professional Disney vocal coach in a special workshop before having 10 minutes to get used to the stage and 30 minutes to put on their costumes.

Stacey said: “The young people were so professional. They had been rehearsing for ten months in preparation. They performed a 20 minute show and it was our young people and another school who were performing that day, so the show was a highlight for visitors to Disneyland.

“They children performed musical theatre, with songs, dancing and acting from musicals, including The Greatest Showman, Annie and others.

"Everyone was so proud, I cried and so did the parents.”

She added: “We auditioned for this because I want to give our young people as many opportunities as possible to perform.” Now young people are busy rehearsing for their other shows, performing Dare to Dream at Bolton’s Albert Halls on July 26, after performing on the Wembley during the Rugby League Final, in front of tens of thousands of people.