Connie claims gold disc

Schoolgirl singing sensation Connie Talbot has been awarded a prestigious gold disc after selling more than 105,000 copies of her debut CD.

The seven year-old from Streetly, who found fame on the ITV1 show Britain's Got Talent, was presented with the accolade by presenter Phillip Schofield on the This Morning show. It follows mammoth sales of Over The Rainbow which is at number 38 in the album charts.

The CD contains the title track which is the song that moved judge Amanda Holden to tears on Britain's Got Talent and earned her praise from notorious Mr Nasty Simon Cowell.

But record bosses decided against releasing it as a single.

Her mother Sharon Talbot said the family had been moved to tears when the gold disc was presented to the singer, who attends Blackwood Primary School.

She said: "Connie couldn't believe her eyes when Phillip Schofield brought it out. We were all overwhelmed. "She has done really well and her management are pleased with sales of the album."

Record bosses initially only pressed 50,000 copies of Connie's album, but had to make another 120,000 after they sold out within days.

The album has been flying off the shelves across the country as she is building a worldwide fan base with her internet profile on social networking site MySpace.

Last week police had to calm frantic crowds who wanted to catch a glimpse of her at the Great Bridge Christmas and Winter Festival and she has also wowed Walsall with a CD signing session at HMV which attracted fans from as afar afield as Portsmouth.

Mrs Talbot also revealed last week that the youngster had been approached by Hollywood film producers. "She's been sent a script, I haven't had a good look at it yet but it's really exciting." she said.

Connie has been ill with a bug over the last couple of days but is appearing on Toonatics tomorrow, which is an appearance she recorded weeks ago.