Sam Kelly's Britain's Got Talent dream came to an end this evening as he was beaten to the title – and �500,000 contract – by dancing dog duo Ashleigh and Pudsey.

Sam Kelly's Britain's Got Talent dream came to an end this evening as he was beaten to the title – and �500,000 contract – by dancing dog duo Ashleigh and Pudsey.

The Spixworth singer-songwriter gave a moving performance of the Rascal Flatts hit Bless the Broken Road, which judges hailed as his best of the series, but failed to make the top three as voted by the public.

He was pipped by dancer Ashleigh Butler and her dog Pudsey, who performed a Mission Impossible-themed routine, and opera singers Charlotte and Jonathan, who finished second. Welsh choir Only Boys Aloud finished third.

Following the result, Sam, 19, took to Twitter to thanks his fans.

He said: 'Thanks you so much to everyone who vote. Deserved winner and top two. The talent really shone through. Hopefully the start of big things.'

The four judges agreed that Sam, a former Sprowston Community High School pupil, had given his best performance yet in the final.

David Walliams told him: 'I think that was your best performance ever. With a song that most people don't know, you just had us all in the palm of your hands. You have the voice, you have the looks, you have the guitar.'

'You were terrific, I think you'll do very well tonight.'

Alesha Dixon said: 'That was just gorgeous: your vocals are so smooth I think you have a real commercial appeal. I love when you perform, because it's like being invited into your personal space, and it becomes a really intimate moment that we are just lucky to hear.'

She added: 'What I loved about that performance is it had an emotional connection to it.'

Amanda Holden called Sam's performance 'sensational' and praised him for singing 'with a lot of soul and passion'.

Simon Cowell said: 'You're likeable, you're good looking. I love the choice of song: it's not well known.'

He added: 'And I agree with the guys who said this is by far the best performance you've given in the competition.'

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