Stand-up comedian Anna Spark has won Beat The Frog World Series 2018, the competition for new acts run by Manchester's Frog And Bucket comedy club.

Speaking about her winning set, the club says: "Her audaciously funny, close-to-the-bone material was a hit with the voting audience and comedy industry folk alike."

The panel prize went Michael Mannion, whose softly spoken set was described as containing "beautifully crafted gags that had a habit of sneaking up on you".

Half-Venezuelan comedian James Heath took the runner up spot with "some finely honed material including his mischievous take on environmental pollution".

The gong-style Beat The Frog night was introduced at the Manchester-based club in 2003. Acts fight to stay on stage for the full five minutes without the audience holding up cards to direct them to leave the stage. Those who survive are then invited to take part in the World Series heats.

Spark, who is from Australia, wins £250 and paid work at the Frog.

The final, which took place at the club last night (Monday 29th October), was hosted by Dan Nightingale and featured a set from last year's winner, Kathryn Mather.

The other finalists taking part were Sian Davies, Mamoun Elagab, Chloe Levi Joyce, Victor Patrascan, Ben Silver and Louise Young.

The club says: "Overall it was a particularly strong final this year. Around five hundred acts have passed through the Beat The Frog newcomer gong show night this last year. The winners of each show were entered into the competition that ran throughout October, eventually whittled down to the nine in the final."