A brave teenager bracing herself for painful surgery at Great Ormond Street raised nearly �800 for the hospital at a sell-out concert with a TV singing contest star last night.

Chloe Poore, 13, said she was impressed by musician Bill Downs' performances on BBC's The Voice, and had the idea of inviting him to Reepham High School after she found that her mother worked with his mother.

Headteacher Mike Farrar gave her the go ahead if she could organise a slew of logistics ranging from insurance to staff cover, and after a whirlwind of activity and a little help from her friends the show was scheduled for Monday night.

She said: 'It was really hard. I spent lunchtimes and all my holidays doing it. I'm really proud of all my friends as they have really helped me lots.

'The best bit was when he turned up and he was asking for me and I just knew it was all going ahead. I was really scared thinking what if they don't turn up and it was not going to happen, so when they came it was amazing.'

Chloe is due to undergo chest surgery at the London children's hospital in September, and had already raised about �180 with a charity car wash with friends in June.

Mr Farrar described her as inspirational, and said: 'Her organisational capacity is fantastic and it's her commitment to doing something for the community. It's just totally exemplary and I can't speak too highly of Chloe and the others involved. They have raised nearly �800 without staff input so it's to their credit.'

For information on donating, see www.justgiving.com/chloe-Poore