Disappointment for Michael Rice as Europe snubs UK at Eurovision

The UK has been snubbed at the Eurovision Song Contest - coming last for the first time since 2010.

Michael Rice scored just 16 points between the public vote and international jury vote on a night when The Netherlands' Duncan Laurence won the crown with his song Arcade, scoring 492 points.

Hartlepool native Rice sang Bigger Than Us at the Expo Tel Aviv venue in Israel against a backdrop of a starry night sky and racing comets.

But his performance failed to soar and did not connect with the international crowd.

Despite the disappointment on the night, Rice remained upbeat and said he had enjoyed his Eurovision experience.

The public votes made up 50% of the total vote, with the other half determined by the professional jury in each participating country.

Gold glitter rained from the roof as Laurence's name was called out before the 25-year-old lifted the trophy, handed to him by last year's winner, Israeli singer Netta Barzilai.

He said: "Oh god, this is to music first. Thank you, thank you."

Rice, who rose to fame after winning the singing show All Together Now last year, said previously that he hoped to improve the UK's reputation at the contest.

The UK has not won Eurovision in 22 years or finished in the top 10 in the past decade.

Prospects of a British victory were bleak - both Coral and Ladbrokes gave Rice a 150/1 chance of taking the title.