America's Marguerite Grant has been crowned winner of the Silver Stand Up Final at Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival, hosted by Mrs Barbara Nice.

Six finalists were selected to compete in front of a packed Bowie’s Bar at the Belmont Hotel – Colin Harris, Sandra Hale, Fred Ferenczi, Debra Heighton, Brian Cowles and Marguerite Grant.

The contestants each performed their 10 minute set in front of the crowd and the judging panel; BBC Radio Leicester presenter Monica Winfield BBC, Martyn Allison from the Big Difference Company and Age UK’s Troy Young.

Grant, a 56-year-old based in Cambridgeshire, first dipped her toes in performing live comedy in her native Missouri. Her in-character routine as a housewife inventor delighted the crowd and the judges and marked her out as one to watch. 2016 was a good year for character acts, with the runners up including 61-year-old Peter Purvis’ oddball creation Fred Ferenczi, and 62-year-old Brian Cowles, with his half-spoken, half- comedy rap set or as it he calls it Geri-raptric.

The competition, now in its fifth year, is open to comedians over the age of 55.

Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival continues until February 21. Details of events here.