Perfume counter girl is sniffed out for record deal

The 21-year-old was at work in Debenhams when she was singing along to a Michael Buble's Christmas classic. Little did she know that music producer John McLaughlin, behind such acts as Busted, Girls Aloud and Take That, was shopping nearby buying scent for his wife.

He approached her to compliment her on her voice during the trip on November 28, and promptly invited her to work alongside him in his studio. The 21-year-old from Sedgley has now signed a contract with Purple Circle Records and is set to release a cover of Ordinary World by Duran Duran, her first single, in January.

Beth said the record contract and meeting John McLaughlin is a "dream come true".

"He was just rushing in to get his wife a present so I was very lucky to be in the right place at the right time," she said.

"I am always singing at work - I sing all the time my friends and family can't stop me.

John said: "It was a little miracle as I discovered Beth by chance when I was in Debenhams at Merry Hill.

"I rushed in having stayed over after a meeting and I wanted to get something for my wife when I heard this girl singing to herself.

He added: "She stopped me in my tracks. I thought she had the most incredible voice. I knew there and then I had to get her into the studio to test out that voice and see if she had real talent."

Beth has been singing in public for many years, and performed at The Birmingham Repertory Theatre with Matthew Kelly and George Costigan in Don Quixote when she was 14. She also performed in a gospel choir with Katherine Jenkins at The Royal Albert Hall.

She's also a talented musician, and plays saxophone, clarinet, guitar and piano. Beth, who has said she will stay in her job until after Christmas, has since collaborated with songwriter Jud Mahoney who has worked with some of the world's leading artists.