ENGLAND football star Rio Ferdinand has tipped a Brierfield teenager to be the nation's next singing sensation after she made it through to the finals of a music contest.

Hayley Bradshaw, 12, of Halifax Road, beat more than 500 hopefuls to the finals of Rio's talent search - similar to ITV's X Factor - despite not having the backing track for her audition piece.

Now her proud dad Paul is appealing for anyone with a copy of Ain't No Mountain High Enough from Sister Act 2 or Heather Small's Proud to get in touch.

If Hayley proves she is the best, she will walk away with a £5,000 record deal from Manchester United defender Rio's label, White Chalk Music.

The pupil at Mansfield High School is already thrilled to be through to the final of the contest and now hopes it will unlock the door to fame.

She said: "I don't think I've done it, it feels like a really clear dream.

"I can't believe something this good has happened to me. I'm so excited.

"If I don't win I'll just be happy that I got that far. There will be other people from the music industry in the audience so I might get picked up by one of them."

Hayley has been singing all her life but has never had lessons.

She chose Ain't No Mountain High Enough for the audition but dropped Diana Ross's version in favour of the cover in the Sister Act film because it suited her powerful voice.

Dad Paul said: "We are so proud of her - not just for getting through to the final but for doing the thing in the first place.

"It was just like X Factor, they had to stand in front of the judges and everyone else had backing tracks and Hayley just went and sang off the cuff.

"We are really struggling to find the backing track for Ain't No Mountain High Enough. We've tried a recording studio but they said it would be too expensive. If anyone's got a copy we would like to borrow it or buy it. I'm looking for Proud by Heather Small, too."

Hayley will now have to wait until the summer for the final of Rio Ferdinand's competition.

Anyone who can help out with a backing track should contact Paul Bradshaw on 01282 601291.