DARLINGTON pop princess Zoe Birkett is keeping her fingers crossed for a top ten spot as she releases her debut single today.

Zoe's disco track Treat Me Like a Lady goes on shop shelves throughout the UK from this morning, making the 17-year-old's single dream become a reality.

But even Zoe doesn't think she can emulate the chart success of her Pop Idol counterparts, Will Young and Gareth Gates.

She said: "I don't expect to have a Number One and I'll be happy to have a top 40 hit.

"Then again, if I get into the top ten, I'll be over the moon."

The former Carmel RC Technology College pupil has toured the country promoting the single for the past month, appearing on MTV, Popworld, Saturday morning show CD:UK and the Disney Show.

But today the star's nailbiting countdown to chart success - or failure - begins. She said: "I've had loads of letters of support from people, which has been fantastic. I'm doing the single for the fans as well as for me.

"I'm quite nervous for the release. I think it's only natural that I feel a bit nervous as it's my first record. I've done a month of hard work and promotion and had a great time doing it, so even if the single doesn't do well, I've enjoyed it. I love the single and I love singing it and dancing to it. I love how it goes. I just hope it makes the fans happy."