ELVIS lives...in Crewe!

World-class Elvis impersonator Paul Larcombe will be stepping into his blue suede shoes and heading off to Memphis, Tennessee, for the finals of the international Elvis impersonator championships in August, after being crowned king at the UK leg earlier this month.

The 'Walk a Golden Mile In My Shoes' competition, held at Black-pool's Norbreck Castle Hotel, saw Crewe man Paul named European Elvis of the Year after beating 67 other hopefuls in a marathon event that spanned Elvis's three decades as the king of rock 'n' roll.

Paul, 36, of Lunt Avenue, has been hooked on Elvis since he was a boy. He says the chance to perform on the legend's home turf in Memphis in the year of the 30th anniversary of his death is a dream come true.

He said: 'I've always been a little bit of an entertainer but it was only 12 months ago that I decided to buy the jump suit and wig and go for it.

'I'm thrilled to have won the competition as some of the other guys were top Elvis impersonators who have appeared in West End shows.

'The amount of study and attention to detail you need to put in to do him justice is incredible. Even the rings are exact replicas.'

Paul, living with wife Rachel, 36, and children Jessica, nine, and seven-year-old Lucy, said walking in Elvis's shoes had made him realise the contribution he made to music.

'When you study him more and more, you realise what he did for music, particularly bringing black music to a mainstream audience.

'I think a lot of people who love Elvis probably don't realise how important his contribution was.'

The Memphis gig in August is the only one of its kind in the world, organised by Elvis Enterprises as part of International Elvis Week, which coincides the 30th anniversary of his death on August 16, 1977.

And Paul adds that this year's competition is truly a groundbreaking event.

'Elvis Enter prises, which is the official Elvis organisation based out of Memphis, is recognising tribute acts for the first time.

'There's so many people doing it now, it's good that we should be recognised for keeping the King's memory alive.'

* To follow Paul's progress, visit www.pure presley.com