A YOUNG singer got to meet her musical hero on a prize trip down to London.

Laura Critchley, of Little Sutton, met Oscar-winning actor and rapper Jamie Foxx and wasted no time in handing over her demo tape to him.

To top off her weekend she attended a film screening, met model Jodie Marsh and won another trip to the capital.

Laura, 22, is virtually a full-time singer who has been trying to hit the big time for a while.

She's wowed audiences on TV shows likeFame Academy and Stars in Their Eyes , does gigs in Wirral and Liverpool, and has a demo tape of her songs.

Last month she entered a singing contest on Radio City and won top prize of a VIP trip to London.

She stayed in a five-star hotel and attended a private screening of the new Hugh Grant film American Dreamz at the BAFTA show rooms in Piccadilly.

Laura said: 'I was over the moon. I love London as you never know who you'll meet.

'On the Friday night my friends and I went to the nightclub China White where I met Jodie Marsh.

'Then I met one of my musical inspirations, Jamie Foxx. I always carry my demo around with me just in case, so I had a word with his bodyguard and he let me approach Jamie.

'Jamie seemed genuinely interested and asked the club for a microphone. I thought he was going to make me sing but instead he started promoting my demo to the club saying, 'We got Laura Critchley in the house, she's looking to get signed this year'.

'I was staring at him in disbelief. I never thought I'd get Jamie Foxx promoting my own material.

'It was definitely one of the most memorable experiences of my music career so far.'

Next day, at the movie's after-show party at the Café Royal in Regent Street, Laura entered another singing contest, hosted by UK Eurovision entrant Javine.

Laura said: 'The prize was another weekend in London living like a star, and I won that too. So I'll be going back there soon to do it all again.'

She is looking for new songwriters and producers to work with. nFor details of her work or to contact her, visit www.LauraCritchley.com