A DREAM came true for Sandra and John Braithwaite when they met rock superstar Janet Jackson.

The pair were winners of a Rock FM phone-in competition which earned them a backstage pass and tickets for Sunday's concert at the Manchester Nynex (May 31).

They were able to chat with Janet before she went on stage, pose for pictures with her and get her to sign a couple of albums which are now among the couple's most treasured possessions. "We really enjoyed ourselves," said John, from Whittaker Avenue, Layton.

"It was hard for her because she was wired up to go on stage and people were shouting things down her earpiece at the same time.

"We just told her we were big fans and to get out there and go for it.

"Janet was not at all like we imagined - she is small and like a porcelain doll, but she was very welcoming."

The Braithwaites are long-standing fans and have many of Janet's albums.

They like the fact that she is not living off her brother Michael's success but doing her own thing.

John said of the show: "Janet didn't stop for two hours.

"A lot of work had obviously gone into the show and she was flitting from one side of the stage to the other.

"I would have been shattered after all that.

"It was a wonderful prize and one we never expected to win - we only entered to win her CD, but ended up taking away the major prize."

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