WESTLIFE and the Spice Girls have been bickering about each other's musical abilities in their race for the coveted Number One spot, but they'd better watch out because Miss Ellaline Jennings could be hot on their tails.

For this talented keyboard player has just released her first CD on her own record label at the grand old age of 92.

Ellaline's CD, entitled "A Keyboard Christmas", is a compilation of Christmas carols and seasonal favourites.

Idea for the CD came about earlier in the year, shortly after Ellaline started to learn to play the electronic keyboard with the help of Tony Foster. The duo met twelve months ago through a mutual friend at Fairfield Hospital -- where Ellaline is a resident -- and since then there's been no stopping the sprightly pensioner, who was born at Crank View, Hard Lane, Windle in 1908.

Ellaline, who taught arts and crafts at Grange Park for 28 years, learned to play the piano when she was nine-years-old and she says that her tinkling of the ivories helped her to master the electronic keyboard. Ellaline told the Star: "Since I started to play the keyboard a year ago everything has just come on leaps and bounds. Tony has been a marvellous teacher and it's great to have been able to produce my first CD on my very own record label, Ellatech."

Tony Foster, Ellaline's tutor and friend, who has been instrumental in the production of the CD, said: "The idea was first discussed in Spring of this year and since then, two hours on each Friday evening between July and October have been set aside for Christmas Album practice.

"With the musical support of many of her friends (doctors, nurses, neighbours and unwitting passers-by who were persuaded to make a musical contribution) Ellaline has managed to produce an amazing tally of 39 Christmas tracks."

The complete production of the CD has been thanks to a tremendous group effort with the front cover, a drawing of the original Fairfield House, having been designed by one of the night sisters, Avril Gibbins.

All the money raised by sales of A Keyboard Christmas will go to Fairfields Special Projects Account -- which Ellaline affectionately refers to as "The Trolley Fund".

Copies of the CD (priced at £3) or the tape cassette (£2) can be bought from Houghton's Newsagents in Rainford, or they can be ordered by post from Miss Ellaline Jennings at Room 6, Fairfield Hospital, Crank Road, St Helens, WA11 7RS, enclosing a cheque or postal order payable to Fairfield Hospital and add 50p per item for postage and packaging.