STUDENT Lynsey Dell aims to leave the classroom behind as she bids for singing stardom after spending a week in chains for a radio show.

The 19-year-old from High Wycombe was offered the opportunity to sing at the London Palladium after finishing as runner-up in a competition on Chris Tarrant's Capital FM breakfast show.

Lynsey has attracted a host of interest from a variety of top music venues and producers following a broadcast of her singing live on the radio on Friday morning.

Sony has offered her the chance of a day's recording in the Whitfield Studios where top stars All Saints recorded their recent hit, Pure Shores.

The studios have also been used by international megastar Madonna and British popsters The Beautiful South. Lynsey is thrilled at the prospect and is dreaming of making it into the big time.

She said: 'I'm not disappointed I didn't win the competition. It would be amazing if this opportunity leads me on to bigger things.

'I've been singing since I was 12 or 13 and I used to be in productions at school, but I didn't really know how to go about taking it more seriously. This is a great opportunity for me.'

The other highlight of Lynsey's week was her visit to the MOBO Awards where she was particularly impressed with Darren, one of the principal characters in Channel 4's Big Brother show.

She said: 'He seemed really nice. Everybody there seemed to recognise us - we even met Samantha Mumba, who we didn't recognise but who recognised us. It was really strange.

'The week was so tiring I think I'll spend all next week catching up with my sleep.'