Music mogul Simon Cowell has announced he is already on the hunt for the next One Direction - but they must be Latino.

The X Factor impresario declared that auditions were opening for his latest venture, a television talent show to find an all-Hispanic boy band called La Banda or The Band in English.

He tweeted the news in English and Spanish after arriving in Manchester for the start of auditions for Britain's Got Talent.

The new show is a collaboration between his firm SYCO Entertainment and Spanish-language network Univision and is to be shown in September on US television.

He tweeted: "Auditions now open to be part of the ultimate Latino boyband. If you know someone who could be a star? Go here http://labandaoficial.com.

"The show airs on Univision this September. This show could give someone the chance of a lifetime. And you know, dreams really can come true!"

Cowell also revealed a new addition to his family, in the shape of a dog.

Tweeting a picture to his 11.3m followers he said: "Squiddly and Diddly have a new friend. Meet Freddy."