WE'VE had singers, guitarists, impressionists dancers and poets.

But Lianne Birkett is the first opera singer to enter our Hampshire's Top Talent search.

She sent the Daily Echo a video of herself performing the opera classic Time to Say Goodbye, made famous by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli.

Lianne's route to discovering her talent was less than conventional.

"When I was a toddler I was always falling over and hitting my head because my co-ordination was so bad.

"My mum decided that she would send me to dance school to improve my co-ordination, and from there I got into dancing.

"Then my dance teacher asked me to sing a few numbers as well, because I was always standing up and making up songs.

"From then on singing became my passion."

The 20-year-old of Cranberry Road, Sholing, Southampton, has just completed her first year on a vocal studies course at prestigious music college Birmingham Conservatoire.

She is hoping that after the four-year course she can pursue her career as an opera singer.