A SCHOOLBOY with dreams of stardom marked his 11th birthday by recording his first CD.

Keen singer and actor Adam Fenton of Cranfield View, Darwen, went into the studio in a bid to emulate Take That with his version of their number 1 hit Shine.

The two-hour session at Zig Zag Recording Studio, in Duddon Avenue, Darwen, was a birthday present from his parents Hazel, 38, and Peter, 43.

Hazel said some comments from a judge at a recent talent contest had knocked his confidence.

She said: "He had only been singing for six weeks but I think he was gutted as there was a judge there who was a bit like Simon Cowell.

"I said to him, I know you are gutted, so do you want to record a CD?' and his face lit up.

"I rang up Zig Zag in Darwen and they said no problem', so he and his friend recorded a single.

"They recorded a single each and Adam recorded Shine' He's really happy with it, although he's embarrassed.

"I think he's very proud he's done it and he doesn't know anybody else who has done that. I'm listening to it all the time."

Adam has been attending the Dance and Performing Arts (DAPA) Centre at Eanam Wharf, Blackburn, twice a week for a year.

Adam began to sing Shine' after finding it suited his voice but soon began to love it so much he recorded the single wearing a suit and top hat in the style of the Take That. His other influences include Mika, McFly and Simon Webbe.

Friend Ben Jones, 14, of Hoddlesden, chose to record The Monkees' hit I'm A Believer'.

Mrs Fenton said: "Adam wants to act in television or on the stage. He has a skill for remembering scripts, too."

The schoolboy's dream is to star as a character in Billy Elliot and he has already had starring roles as Annie's dog in the DAPA Centre's production and as the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz at school.

Adam, who has brothers Dominic, 12, and Scott, seven, is also learning how to play the drums and is an aspiring comedian.