SINGER songwriter Ruth Barrie is hoping to break into the big time following national competition success.

The 28-years-old Lowton music graduate is thrilled to have had one of her songs selected as a finalist in the UK Songwriting Contest, organised in association with the Brits.

Now Ruth, of Tarnway, is hoping to promote the song "Hold On", which wowed the judges in the jazz and blues category.

Scot Ruth, who has settled in Lowton after graduating in music from Salford University, has already written two albums "Into The Light", a compilation of her work over many years, and "Inside Outside" which contains new songs written since Christmas.

She started songwriting at the age of 13 after taking classical singing lessons and since then that has been all she has wanted to do.

After leaving university she took a job in IT but has now given up the work to concentrate on being a full-time writer and musician working in her home studio.

Ruth, who has sung at jazz festivals and at city venues, describes her work as commercial sounding chilled out jazzy pop. Her aim is to win a publishing deal and to write for other artists.

"I was searching the internet and found the UK songwriting contest. I decided to send a couple of my songs and found out this month that "Hold On" was a finalist. I'm really excited that people have acknowledged my work. I am quite happy with that and hope that I might get interest from the music industry."