The UK may have only come a lowly 16th in this year's Eurovision song contest but a Croydon songwriter saw his tune finish in the top five.

Mike Connaris, 50, from Sanderstead, wrote and composed the Cypriot ballad Stronger Every Minute performed in Istanbul on Saturday by another Brit, 16-year-old Lisa Andreas.

And the song was even voted best composition by the rest of the Eurovision composers.

Mike said: "I'm very pleased. The Cypriot delegation were also really pleased with the result. It's the best they've ever done.

"They've got to fifth place before but that was with less countries voting."

The song received high scores from the United Kingdom, Finland and Estonia, although Mike says it wasn't a traditional Cypriot song and was far removed from the normal Eurovision fodder.

Mike said: "It's not really a Cypriot song at all. It's a traditional ballad, it's very different for Eurovision.

"There were no tricks it was all about Lisa's voice. And I think that's what marked it out."

Mike, who is managing director of music production company Mcasso, which he set up in the 1980s, is determined to enter the competition again next year.