US tribute to Britain's Got Talent star Chloe Hickinbottam

Young Britain's Got Talent star Chloe Hickinbottom has found her fan base extends a great deal further than she had anticipated.

The 10-year-old Walsall singer, who reached the semi-finals in the latest series of the TV talent show, was sent a gift package in the post from a fan in California after it took a roundabout trip . . . through Wednesbury.

The package, which contained $35, pens, a hairbrush, a handbag and a five-page letter, was sent by mistake to Ann Hickinbottom, of Leabrook Road, Wednesbury.

Ann got in touch with the Express & Star to hand gifts over. The letter, from a Dame Annie Schurer, 57, of West California, said she saw Chloe on the internet. The St Thomas of

Canterbury School pupil's performances, in which she sang the The White Cliffs of Dover by Dame Vera Lynn and Moon River, have been watched more than 1.6 million times on YouTube.

The letter asked for a signed photograph of Chloe, adding: "So that when you become a star, I will have a signed picture of you from the Britain's Got Talent days."

She also wrote: "Your voice is extraordinary and your stage presence is beautiful."

Chloe said: "I couldn't believe it, it was really exciting to get something from so far away." Chloe's father, Andrew, of Coalpool, said: "I left it at first because I thought someone had ordered stuff off ebay and it had come to the wrong address.

"But later in the evening I thought I ought to open it and check if there was an invoice and that's when I realised it was intended for Chloe from Walsall."

"Whoever sent it must have just looked up Hickinbottom over the web and came up with our address. I was a bit surprised, but it's a nice thought."

Chloe says her love of music was down to her grandfather, who she used to sing with.

Andrew added: "At the end of the day, some people have worked for years to get to the point she is.

"Still being in the public mind is quite exciting, it's lovely for her. She just wants to carry on with her career dream."