DELIGHTED dad Vinnie Crowshaw is feeling top of the "pops" after learning that his daughter Suzanne's band Hear'Say had stormed to number one.

Not content with making records, the 19-year-old Bury girl and her band are busy breaking them, romping to the top of the charts with Pure and Simple, the fastest-selling debut single ever on the day of its release last Monday (March 12).

Millions of viewers tuned in to TV's Popstars programme on Sunday night (March 18) to see Suzanne and mum Janet Kish react to news of the chart-topping success.

Vinnie learnt of his daughter's unprecedented success over the telephone when he rang his partner Irene at home.

"It's marvellous. Six months ago they were unknowns, now they've done what some artists take their whole life to achieve."

"I spoke to Suzanne on my mobile. It was only a brief call but they were all delighted."

Finishing above Westlife's Comic Relief single in the charts, the song also emerged as the third fastest-selling single in history over a week, beaten only by Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas and Elton John's 1997 version of Candle in the Wind. Vinnie said: "To be put in the same list as names like that says everything.

"I thought it would take some doing beating Westlife because of the charity aspect. But beating it so easily is quite an achievement."

Vinnie will travel to London at the weekend to be present at ITV's Audience with the Popstars. The good news was also welcomed by members of her former Abba tribute band, The Right Stuff, including 35-year-old Andrew Warner, who has been dating Suzanne.

He said: "We're absolutely thrilled about it. It's been more successful than anyone imagined."

After an on-line chat with fans and a brief celebration party on Sunday night, Hear'Say were in bed early to prepare for a daytime TV appearance. Andrew said: "It's a busy schedule and it's hardly rock and roll, but they don't mind that."

Record shops in Bury shifted huge volumes of the single with a copy of the song sold for almost every other record, although sales had slowed markedly by yesterday.

Bury FC player Paul O'Shaughnessy (19) who sold his story on his former relationship with Suzanne for several thousands of pounds to a Sunday newspaper is believed to be set to help out a five-year-old girl suffering from leukaemia.

It is understood that he is due to make a donation to a fund in aid of Vanessa Maddock, from Rochdale, who is seriously ill with the condition and needs specialist treatment in the USA.