North East busking duo win 12th series of The Voice

Will.i.am with his winning act Jen & Liv

A busking duo from north-east England have won the latest season of ITV singing competition The Voice.

Jenna Cole and Olivia Irvin, known as Jen & Liv, won the competition after being mentored by Black Eyed Peas star Will.i.am.

Jen, 21, from Whitley Bay, and Liv, 24, from Spennymoor, took home a recording contract with Universal Music, £50,000 in cash and a holiday in Mauritius for winning the show.

Liv said the pair felt "amazing" and described working with Will.i.am as "life changing".

During the final, Jen & Liv performed Whitney Houston's I'm Every Woman, as well as Beyonce's Break My Soul, which they performed with Will.i.am.

The pair previously performed as buskers in spots around the North East, including Newcastle.

In the final they beat Hope Winter, from Greenwich, Jolie Stevens, from Cardiff, and Callum Doignie, from Telford.

Liv said: "We are just really grateful, we've worked really hard and our families over there, we love them so much. All the coaches - Will, you've been so life changing for us, we just feel amazing. Thank you everyone, thank you."

Will.i.am said Jen & Liv's relationship reminded him of his friendship with Black Eyed Peas founding member Apl.de.Ap.

He said: "Seeing the girls, they remind me of me and Apl, me and my best friend.

"To see people who really truly appreciate one another and support one another, it just reminds me of the person that I built my dream with, and that's my best friend."

The final of the 12th series of The Voice was aired on 30 December on ITV.