Thousands queued around several blocks as the Britain’s Got Talent auditions rolled into town.

Clutching their tickets to watch the filming for the new series, lines of people snaked around the Opera House venue and into Spinningfields.

The first person in the queue arrived at 7am. Around 2,000 more turned up to queue over the next eight hours. Only then did the doors open for the first filming session.

But once inside, it was all worth the wait.

Judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan were back in their hot-seats, hands hovering over buzzers to either make – or break – the dreams of a host of would-be entertainers on the fourth series of the ITV talent quest.

Amanda said: “In last year’s final seven of the acts were from Manchester, so I’m expecting a lot today – to prove that Manchester has got talent.”

Show hosts Ant and Dec were still full of smiles after heading straight to Manchester from their double victory at this week’s National TV Awards.

They gleefully took their gongs on to the stage – and even ‘Mr Nasty’ Cowell couldn’t resist congratulating the Geordie duo.

Business turned swiftly back to the talent though – with the judges hoping to find another international superstar after the success of Susan Boyle last year.

Simon said: “The only reason we are here is to find a star.”

Wannabe after wannabe headed on to the stage in the hope of impressing the judges – and aiming to avoid getting three red buzzers which would end their performances.

There were cheers and boos in equal measure as the likes of jumping rabbits, a succession of singing children, dance troupes and stripping singers aimed to impress.

But did Manchester have talent? Well, there were certainly some stars in the making at the first of three days of auditions in the city.

Watch out for a truly side-splitting ventriloquist called John who even had Simon in stitches, and a group of Burnley choirgirls who received a standing ovation.

Some words of advice, though, for anyone heading to the filming sessions which continue throughout today and tomorrow at the Opera House.

Wear as many warm layers as you can manage and make sure you have food and drink with you.

And make sure you pay a visit to the toilet before you join that queue!