Gorleston has proved a fertile ground for finding new singing talent over the years with Myleene Klass and Hannah Spearritt both soaring to the top of the charts.

Now Esmee Murray, who has just sat her GCSEs at the town's Ormiston Venture Academy, is hoping to follow in their footsteps - and her performing arts teacher believes that for her the sky's the limit.

Paul Sprong is well placed to judge for in the 1990s his band Greenship were signed up by top recording company Rondor Music and looked poised for big success until an untimely split.

After four successful years teaching at the Academy, the father of six is now to return to the music industry full-time and plans to mentor young talent, including Esmee.

Esmee's remarkable singing voice - described by Mr Sprong as shades of several artists, including Corinne Bailey Rae and Adele - only came to light in December during her final year at the Academy.

Mr Sprong said: 'She turned up out of the blue and asked if she could sing with her friends in the Christmas show.

'I thought, 'bloody hell', she can really sing.'

Mr Sprong took her along to The Mill studio in Winfarthing, near Diss, to record a song he had written and she proved to be a natural.

He said: 'She had never been in a studio before or even put a pair of headphones on, yet she sang it in one take during a single afternoon.

'Jonny Cole, my production partner at the studio, said 'I can't believe that has just happened'.'

Along with the initial song, Head Over Heels, he has written a further three songs for her and plans to send the recordings to producers and music directors he knows.

He hopes local radio stations will give Esmee a break and said she would also be looking to gain experience by gigging and singing at functions.

Esmee, of High Road, Burgh Castle, will be starting at Gorleston's East Norfolk Sixth Form College in September to study art and graphics, drama and theatre studies and performing arts.

She said: 'I have always enjoyed singing and love the voice of Amy Winehouse. Performing on stage has given a massive boost to my confidence.'

Since her debut at the Christmas show, Esmee has sung at the school's talent contest.

Anyone interested in signing her for a function is invited to contactNaomi Palmer at Ormiston Academy in the first instance.