Opera superstar Jose Carreras has agreed to give a special concert in Edinburgh after a personal request from a widowed grandmother.

Betsy Stirling, 57, wrote to the Spanish tenor on the night her husband Hamish died of leukaemia.

Carreras, who fought leukaemia himself 10 years ago, agreed to perform and split the proceeds between the Leukaemia Trust for Scotland and the Jose Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation.

Carreras said: "When I received the letter from Mrs Stirling asking me to help with her plans to organise a charity concert in the Usher Hall in order to raise funds for leukaemia, I had no hesitation in saying yes.

"I am both delighted and honoured to have been asked to perform at such a prestigious venue and on such a special occasion."

Leukaemia battle

Mrs Stirling's 60-year-old husband, who was the Sheriff of Hamilton, died, in July 1998 following a four-year battle with the disease.

The couple, from West Lothian, were opera enthusiasts and fans of Carreras.

On the night Mr Stirling died, his widow told her family she would love to bring the singer to Scotland, particularly for those who were too ill to travel to see him elsewhere in the country.

"I knew how much Hamish loved Jose Carreras and how much he would have loved to see him perform," she said.

"It made me think of the many fans that may wish the same thing".

She admits it was a "shot in the dark", and said: "I could hardly believe it when I read the letter to say that he had said yes. Since then I haven't looked back."

The performance will take place on December 8 in Edinburgh's Usher Hall.