A 15-YEAR-OLD schoolgirl has become a global web phenomenon after her father secretly filmed her singing in her bedroom.

Chantelle Readman had no idea her father, Paul, had crept upstairs with a camera as she played on her keyboard and sang Michael Jackson's Gone Too Soon.

He posted the clip on video sharing website YouTube, mainly to show friends and family.

Incredibly, Chantelle attracted a million hits, making her one of the site's hottest properties and beating some of the world's biggest stars.

She decided to record more after the overwhelming reaction to the clip. Again the response was huge.

Then a US music producer approached her and asked her to record a cover of Eva Cassidy's Fields Of Gold. She has also recorded promotional tracks for a German radio station.

The demand for her music has been so great that she will soon launch a website, where fans across the world can hear her songs.

Chantelle, from Consett, County Durham and who was 14 when she was recorded, said: "At first I was just embarrassed. I had no idea what dad had done.

"He is a typical dad. He thinks I have a good voice and wants everyone to know it. I cannot believe what has happened. I would love to be a singer but never thought anyone outside our home would ever hear me."

Chantelle, who is in Year 10 at Moorside Community College, in Consett, has been singing since she was five, plays the piano and writes songs.

She said: "The way I feel when I sing is indescribable. It is just overwhelming and it all started when my dad used to play music when I was little.

"It didn't matter what it was I just started singing along and I soon picked it up."

One of Chantelle's most popular videos on YouTube is a tribute to 16-year-old school friend Ben Stirland, who died after he choked on a pen top in January.

Proud parents Diane and Paul always knew their daughter was a star, but said they did not realise how special her voice was until they saw her perform at a school event.

Her mother said: "I had heard her singing in her room, but when we saw her in this show at school, we just could not believe it.

"She has had no training and she literally brings a tear to our eyes with her voice."

Her father said: "She wasn't serious about this. She was just a young girl having a bit of fun, but one day I decided to film her singing without her knowing and post it on YouTube, which we barely used up until then.

"Now she has fansites dedicated to her and people all over the world who love her music.

"We are just so proud."