A well-known charity singer from High Wycombe has quit television talent show The Voice after it was announced star judge Sir Tom Jones was no longer going to appear on the programme.

Paul Donnelly, who also goes by the name Paddy the Painter, claims he has walked out of the show after the first-round audition stage.

The Loudwater singer, who works as a painter and decorator and sells CDs of his version of famous songs for charity, was due to perform on the show in a bid to raise more for Stoke Mandeville Spinal Injuries Unit and Scannappeal he says.

However, the 48-year-old said he has decided against waiting to find out if he will be offered an audition in front of The Voice judges after one of his heroes, Sir Tom Jones, was dropped from the line-up.

The Queensmead Road resident said: “I got through the open audition at the end of June up at the Hilton in Wembley and was excitedly expecting to hear back from the BBC production team before the end of August whether or not I had made in onto the television stage.

“I was really looking forward to hopefully getting through to the next round and performing in front of Sir Tom, but didn’t feel it was right when I heard the news.

“It’s a real shame as I wanted to try and do it for the charities too. I just felt like I had to make a stand on this. I don’t know if I would have got through or not, but I’ve made my mind up.”

Mr Donnelly has covered a variety of artists, including Bob Marley and The Eagles and during his first audition he performed the hits ‘Time goes by’, ‘Desperado’ and ‘She’s got a way’.

The BBC confirmed earlier this month that Sir Tom Jones would not be appearing on the upcoming series, with Boy George taking his place alongside Paloma Faith, Ricky Wilson and will.i.am.