AN Oldswinford teenager's dreams of singing stardom have received a boost from the sister of a musical heroine.

Felicity Cox's version of the popular song What A Wonderful World on the YouTube website has already attracted 9,500 views including a watch from the family of million-selling songbird Eva Cassidy.

American blues and jazz singer Eva Cassidy became a global star after her death, aged 33 in 1996, and her final concert closed with a version of What A Wonderful World.

A version of the song by 13-year-old Felicity attracted attention in the USA which prompted an amazing endorsement.

Felicity's father, Peter Cox, said: "I put the track on YouTube and she immediately started getting views from all over the world.

"One gentleman in the states heard it and wrote to me explaining he was a friend of the Cassidy family and he asked if I minded if he e-mailed Eva Cassidy's sister Margret to get her to listen to her sing.

"He explained the song had moved him so much and, as it had been the last song Eva Cassidy had sung in public before she died, this would be all the more poignant for Margret.

"On hearing it Margret wrote to Felicity through YouTube and told her how much she had loved it - that was such a wonderful moment for Felicity."

Felicity, who goes to Redhill School, is getting set for an appearance in the Teenstar talent competition area final at the NEC on Saturday March 23, with a place in the national finals at London's O2 Arena up for grabs.

She said: "It's my dream to sing at a place like the O2 Arena and the NEC show is the only thing standing between me and that goal."