WEST End stars have steered a North-East teenager towards realising a dream.

Professional singers such as David Fawcett, Andy Reiss, Amanda Leigh Smith and Katie Leeming - all from the musical Les Miserables, came to Middlesbrough last month to give a fundraising concert for Ruth James.

They were determined to help send the 19-year-old from Acklam, Middlesbrough, on a world tour with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, of which she is a member.

The show called Beyond the Barricade, which featured hits from West End and Broadway musicals, raised £500 to help send Ruth on a concert tour of Australia, the Cook Islands, Mexico and the US this summer.

Ruth is grateful to people who supported the concert at the Middlesbrough Theatre - there were only 20 spare seats. But, while she has joined the tour, which began in Western Samoa, on Wednesday, she has only managed to find half the £3,500 cost of the trip, and must raise the rest on her return home in September.

Her mother, Judith James said last night: "The tour is costing £3,500 and we have been unable to raise that amount.

"We have raised about half of it. That is good, but it is still a bit short."

The concert came about after Ruth told her ambition to singer Andy Reiss during a masterclass. Anybody who can help raise funds is asked to ring (01642) 270550.