SONGBIRD Annette Wardell saw a dream come true when she sang the national anthem at the FA Cup final in Cardiff.

Before a crowd of 80,000 and a worldwide TV audience of more than 200m, the 29-year-old opera singer from Marske and five other members of the new classical sensation Tenors & Divas also sang the traditional football song Abide With Me. The world was literally their stage.

But later she took a step back from the global spotlight to relax in her home town.

Now London-based, the former pupil of Warsett School in Brotton visited her mother, Carole, and stepfather, local teacher John Thompson, for a well-earned break.

Miss Wardell, who studied at the Royal College of Music in London, has performed major roles for the Covent Garden Festival, Opera North and is currently at Glyndebourne Opera Company in Sussex.

She also recently performed at Newcastle's Theatre Royal in a production of Gilbert and Sullivan's Iolanthe.

But she took on all kinds of other work until years of study, perseverance and homesickness paid off.

"This is fairytale stuff," she said. "It is wonderful doing something you are passionate about for a living. And the struggles are all worthwhile when you get an opportunity as amazing as singing for the FA Cup.

"Not only was it incredible to be seen on worldwide TV but, best of all, my family and friends had front row seats in their living rooms. I rang my mum as soon as I came off the pitch!"