HOLLIE Steel’s family say she is close to her dream of making the charts in her own right after missing out on a duet with Rolf Harris.

The East Lancashire youngster’s single Where Are You Christmas?, is performing well in the HMV pre-order for Christmas charts, despite receiving no no airplay yet.

Hollie’s mum Nina said that after just three days of being available on pre-order, Hollie’s single, co-written by Mariah Carey, rose rapidly to the number 10 spot for most popular HMV pre-ordered singles.

However she is urging East Lancashire to back Hollie with more orders to help the 11-year-old’s dream of making the top ten become a reality for Christmas.

She said: “Currently Hollie’s single is just behind Robbie Williams’ and ahead of singles by Nelly Furtado, Alicia Keys and Morrisey – and the single should be played across radio stations within the next week.

“It is only the pre-order charts and it is early days but she could have been on the last page and instead she is on the first so it is a good sign.

"Especially as no-one has heard the song yet!

“If we can keep her pre-order numbers high then it means that she will get more air time when the single is released.”

Hollie, who lives in Huncoat but grew up in Burnley and goes to school in Whalley, hit the headlines earlier this year after making it through to the finals of hit ITV1 show Britain’s Got Talent.

Rolf Harris chose to record a single with Status Quo, instead of performing a song he had written about a grandfather and granddaughter with Hollie as previously planned.

On the U-turn, Nina added: “I didn’t hear anything from his manager about the decision despite getting positive feedback in the beginning.

“It is a project idea and could still happen next year or the year after, though.

“Hollie is doing really well on her own and in some ways it would be better to see her make it into the charts on her own efforts.

“She would love to be in the top ten and I really hope everyone will support her.”

The £1.99 CD is available exclusively from HMV from Monday, December 7, and is available to pre-order now.