Britain's Got Talent: Sydnie Christmas is winner after singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Singer Sydnie Christmas burst into tears after she was announced as the winner of Britain’s Got Talent.

She said: “I don’t know what to say, I cannot believe the amount of love that I’ve felt. I am overwhelmed with love and it’s the most amazing thing and I wish every person in this room feels the way I do with this love, it’s amazing, thank you so much.”

She performed Somewhere Over The Rainbow in the Britain’s Got Talent final, winning the £250,000 prize and a spot on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance.

Amanda Holden was drowned out by thunderous applause as she said: “I know how long you have waited for this moment, it was utterly spellbinding and perfect in every way. It was just gold dust.”

Bruno Tonioli said: “That is what I call a show-stopping performance, you took my breath away.”

Simon Cowell said: “That was really something special, that lyric felt so personal to you about what you must have wanted over the years with a god-given talent like that and for whatever reason you’ve been ignored. I actually felt very emotional.”

Earlier, comedian Alex Mitchell paid tribute to former rugby league star Rob Burrow. The teaching assistant with autism, who won a place in the final after embracing his tics during his routine, called the late athlete a “hero”.

Leeds Rhinos, the former club of Burrow, who was known for raising awareness of motor neurone disease after his own diagnosis, announced his death, at the age of 41, on Sunday.

During his routine Mitchell joked that his biggest achievement before reaching the final was fitting three Creme Eggs into his mouth.

He also left a “final message” and said: “To every school teacher, to every kid I’ve ever taught, we did it. Once again from me, love will always win.”

Judge Alesha Dixon told the comedian he “has something really powerful to say”.

“I love how off the cuff you are and natural, you’re a bit edgy, which is brilliant. “More importantly you have something really powerful to say and I think you’re going to inspire so many people and for that I commend you.”

Paying tribute to Burrow, Mitchell then said: “About an hour ago, before I came on stage, I got the sad news and it’d be remiss of me not to mention it. I know they won’t be watching, but to the family of Rob Burrow – he is a hero.”

The first finalists to take to the stage on Sunday were Japanese double-dutch dance group Haribow, who were praised by head judge Simon Cowell. “I don’t know what to say because it was so brilliant,” he said. “I mean your first audition was one of the best auditions we saw this year.

“I thought your semi-final performance wasn’t as good as your audition, and then on the night that it mattered you pull it out the bag with one of the most incredible performances.”

Elsewhere on the show Ghanian dancing duo Abigail & Afronitaaa were told the “entire audience” had fallen in love with them after their high-octane dance performance. During the final, they performed to a medley of songs, which included popular Afrobeats track Antenna by Fuse ODG.

The judges were left open-mouthed with a trick from magician Trixy which culminated in the reveal of Peter Andre, hidden behind a playing card on stage.

Last year Norwegian comedian Viggo Venn won the prize with his high-vis inspired routines.