AN opera starlet from Rossendale has stepped in to headline a major Valentine’s concert at Blackburn Cathedral in aid of the county’s cancer centre.

Crawshawbooth’s Grace O’Malley, 16, will feature in the Concert By Candlelight at the venue on Thursday, February 12, supported by the Blackburn People’s Choir, to aid Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s Valentine’s Appeal.

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Talented young performers from Clitheroe Royal Grammar School are also scheduled to appear at the event, which will be hosted by BBC Radio Lancashire presenter John Gilmore.

Ted Davidson, vice-president of Burnley & Padiham Royal British Legion, said: “The appeal usually has a soprano but whoever it was could not make it this year so Grace was asked. She is looking forward to it and now we are trying to get the word out so we can sell as many tickets as we can for the Rosemere appeal.”

On her Twitter page, Grace said: “So honoured to sing for such a wonderful charity! Please come along for a good night!”

This year’s appeal is geared towards establishing a vocational rehabilitation service, which would be run in conjunction with Shaw Trust, to assist working-age cancer sufferers back into employment.

A Rosemere spokesman said: “More and more cancer patients face physical, emotional, legal and financial obstacles when they try to pick up their working life. The introduction of this service aims to help them overcome those obstacles and rebuild the confidence they need to regain this vital aspect of their life after cancer.”

Supermarket collections have been lined up across east Lancashire in aid of the appeal, starting at Tesco in Great Harwood on Thursday. Churchgoers from St Chad’s, Whittle-le-Woods, will host a singalong night, focusing on the hits of Abba, at the parish centre on February 28.

Tickets to the concert cost £10 to £25.

See www.rosemere.org.uk/valentines or call 01772 522193 to book.