FOREST singer Ellie Higgs, 14, is floating on air after stunning the audience at the weekend's prestigious Undiscovered Youth Talent Contest in Stroud.

Singing glamour star Adele's hit Rolling in the Deep, Ellie, from Lydney, was just edged into runner-up position in the Best Act Under 16 section.

"She was fantastic, amazing – I'm really over the moon," said her mum Gill.

"She really sounded great and she is delighted with her success. It's a difficult song to sing and she did it incredibly well – especially when you consider she didn't have a single lesson to get it right."

Past prizewinners in the Door Youth Project-sponsored event have done incredibly well, with singer Nathan Sykes joining The Wasted group on a national tour. One of the judges this year, Mary-Jess Leaverland, was also a prizewinner who went on to win the Chinese version of the X-Factor.

This is the tenth year that this event has been running.

Ellie, a Whitecross pupil, has two singing engagements on Saturday (February 5) with the Youth variety Show at Minchinhampton Market House and Stroud Subscription Rooms, the scene of her contest success.