SIX years ago Jamie Benson was dreaming of life as a pop star. Now the 19-year-old is getting a taste of stardom after her group's debut single stormed the charts.

Jamie is singer with new girl band Hepburn, whose track, I Quit, went in at number eight on Sunday.

The four-piece group formed two years ago after the former Bognor schoolgirl met bandmate Lisa Lister at a party.

But Jamie, who first sang on stage at the age of 11, nearly made a far earlier live appearance. Her parents, Barry and Dinky, were touring Wales with their own cabaret act, and she was born in Bridgend the day after a show.

The couple, of Lucking Lane, Middleton, joined her at a London hotel for the chart rundown on Sunday.

Barry, 54, said: "It is fantastic news. The group hoped the single would make the Top Twenty and were very nervous during the day. When it went in at number eight everyone was really excited.

"Jamie was lucky not to be born on stage, but she got interested in singing when she was young. She is doing very, very well."

Jamie grew up in Middleton and attended Felpham Community College, training at local dance studio Art Of Dance until she was 16.

She landed a scholarship with the Laine Theatre arts school in Epsom before being snapped up by music giant Sony.

Her burgeoning pop career marks the latest success for Art Of Dance teacher Lisa Davies.

Last month, the Argus told how her brother, Ben Richards, introduced to dance by Lisa, landed the lead role in hit West End musical Saturday Night Fever.

Lisa is staging a gala bash to mark the tenth anniversary of Art of Dance at Worthing's Connaught Theatre on June 20.

Although former pupils are performing, Jamie will be unable to appear due to commitments with Hepburn.

Jamie describes her music as "feisty, guitar-based pop", and says the group are "are all about fun living".

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