POP Idol star Zoe Birkett hit the right note with viewers again when she won through to the next round of the television show.

Sixteen-year-old Zoe, of Welbeck Avenue, Darlington, was the only contestant to be given a glowing report by all four judges after her rendition of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You.

And the public obviously agreed because Zoe, a pupil at Carmel RC College, secured enough viewers' votes to go through to the next round, to be shown on Saturday.

Zoe's mother, Tracey, said she was over the moon.

"We can't believe she's got this far, it's absolutely wonderful, and Zoe is delighted.

"She was pleased and surprised to get through to the final, but she seems to be growing in confidence with each performance. She is keeping her feet firmly on the ground however, and we are just taking each day as it comes."

To vote for Zoe tune in to ITV on Saturday at 6.15pm. The result is annouced at 9.25pm.