Unknown tipped for Christmas hit

Erin was on work experience when she was asked to record a demo

An unknown schoolgirl is being tipped as a contender for the Christmas number one.

Erin Rocha, from Poole in Dorset, is the subject of a music industry bidding war after her debut song Can't Do Right for Doing Wrong made it on to the BBC Radio Two playlist.

The 16-year-old was spotted while she was on work experience at a Hampshire recording studio.

Despite her success and plans for an album she says she has no plans as yet to leave school but will fit in time in the studio around classes.

I was planning on going into aromatherapy and being a masseuse but I don't know now, I'll see how this goes Erin Rocha

Ms Rocha told the BBC: "I went to a studio for work experience and they asked me to record a demo of a song - Can't Do Right for Doing Wrong - so they could send it to companies and they could try it out with their artists.

She attends the sixth-form at Poole High School and is currently studying for her A-levels in drama, English literature and language and psychology.

She started singing at the age of six and first went into the recording studio in October 2001.

School play

In 2002 she sang live to a crowd of thousands at Bournemouth's Pier Approach as part of the Queen's Golden Jubliee celebrations.

"A couple of weeks ago I got a phone call to say the company that owns the song liked the version of me singing the song and wondered if I'd like to release it as a single.

"Before all this happened I was planning on going into aromatherapy and being a masseuse but I don't know now, I'll see how this goes."

She is now back at school rehearsing for a Christmas play - a musical Romeo and Juliet.