TWO talented Eden schoolgirls are on the brink of stardom after impressing judges on ITV talent show The Voice UK.

Saturday's blind auditions saw friends Eliza Gutteridge and Anna Willison-Holt, both 17, picked by legendary Welsh singer Sir Tom Jones and Grammy-winning producer will.i.am, who turned their chairs in the nick of time.

The Year 13 pupils relived the excitement at Eliza's Long Marton home, near Appleby, as they watched Saturday's pre-recorded show with their families, and drank a champagne toast.

The classmates at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith, told the Gazette they had been sworn to secrecy about making it through to the 'battle' rounds.

Denim-clad Eliza was ecstatic to be picked for Team Tom by her musical hero after performing Wild Horses by Birdy. She even has a cardboard cutout of the Delilah singer. Anna, of Great Strickland, wearing her aunt's colourful jacket, joined Team Will after singing The Noisettes' Never Forget You.

"It's been so crazy, going from having to keep it a secret every day to everyone knowing about it," said Eliza, who is studying A-level drama, history and biology. "People are stopping us in [Penrith food shop] Cranstons when we are going to get our lunch at school to congratulate us."

"It's the most terrifying thing I've ever done," she said of the blind audition. "I was just getting more and more desperate as the song went on, terrified no one was going to turn. I pushed my notes more and held that last one as long as possible. Tom turned at the last second. That felt amazing. I can't even describe it; it's just a blur, really."

English and philosophy student Anna, whose dad Andrew played guitar in Barrow-in-Furness band The Tier Garden, described the last few days as "mad". Social media followings have "gone through the roof", with more than 300,000 views on YouTube.

"I did go wrong a few times," she said of her audition, "but the audience keep you believing in yourself. I loved it. I started getting 'hungrier' - I'd never felt that feeling before and it made it even better when will.i.am turned round."

The girls' singing teacher, Barbara Gilbertson, of Dufton, said she was "extraordinarily proud" of her classically trained pupils. Head teacher Paul Buckland praised the pair for managing to juggle the contest, their studies and their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Both teens praised the "amazing" support from The Voice UK's backstage crew. Their next TV appearance is likely to be in late February/early March. The overall winner will receive £100,000 and a record deal.