It was pleasing that so many people wanted to become the 'Voice of the Tram' - but sadly, there can only be one winner

NET spokesman

NET officials and representatives from the Nottingham Tram Company want a voice which is "clear, but which perhaps has a Nottinghamshire element to it."

They say they hope to find a local talent to become the "Voice of the Tram" for years to come.

Entries came from across Nottinghamshire, as well as from Leicestershire, Derbyshire and London.

The shortlist of five includes two women and three men, all from Nottinghamshire.

A NET spokesman said: "We were very impressed with the standard of entries, which made the judging very difficult.

"It was also pleasing that so many people wanted to become the 'Voice of the Tram' - but sadly, there can only be one winner."

Listeners' favourite

The finalists are being invited on to BBC Radio Nottingham's Jeff Owen Mid-morning Show for an on-air voice test.

Listeners will be asked to phone in to vote for their favourites, although the judges' decision will be final.

The winning voice will make announcements on board the tram to describe where it is going and which the next stop is.

Work on NET's Line One began in June 2000 and is on schedule to end in November next year.

It is the start of a proposed network serving the whole of the greater Nottingham area.

Its 14 kilometres will run from Hucknall, north of Nottingham, through other former mining communities and disadvantaged inner-city areas, before reaching the city centre and terminating at Nottingham railway station.