Fingers are crossed in Essex as the county's very own television pop star steps into the limelight.

Popstars: The Rivals hopeful, Chloe Staines, will sing to survive live in front of millions tommorow night.

The 18-year-old now needs the nation's votes to be in with a chance of making her dreams of stardom come true.

Chloe, a former Rainsford schoolgirl from Chelmsford, got through to the last ten girls in the programme but must take centre stage to stay in the televised competition to find a boy and girl band to battle it out for the Christmas number one slot.

Chloe's mother Dawn said: "Obviously things are hotting up.

"The tension's fairly high, they're just really nervous, but I think they're all going to be fine on the night."

The talented performer's sister, Elizabeth, has also been enlisted to help encourage Essex to vote and has been pinning up Vote Chloe posters in the county town.

Published Friday October 18, 2002

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