YOU might not recognise him immediately, but the young lad pictured here is Southampton-born pop star Craig David.

The singing sensation is seen here, at the age of 11, playing the lead at a church youth group production.

Craig, 19, looks like he is revelling in his role in the Parable of the Prodigal Son at the Orchard Lane Church youth club in Southampton.

The chart-topping star, whose hits include Seven Days and Walking Away, had natural talent even then.

Indeed, Craig's fairytale rise from humble youth club beginnings to international success could soon be encouraging the next generation of talent from the region.

Yesterday a film project based on the early life of the R&B singer was launched in his home city of Southamp-ton. Silent Soul will feature the talent of local youngsters and follows a young boy who, like Craig, is obsessed with music and is determined to make it to the top.

As these amazing video stills show, just like the title of his debut album, Craig was always Born To Do It. The tape shows Craig, from the Holyrood estate, already comfortable in front of the cameras.

Ian Knight, who helped run the club where Craig was a regular, said: "He did not really sing much then - that would have been frowned upon by the other lads then - but he did like performing.

"We used to tell them Bible stories and let them decide what they would do with it and they would then just ad-lib it.

"If we had to guess then which one out of the lads in the group would become a performer, I think Craig would have been top of the list."

The club also gave Craig the chance to develop his musical skills.

Mr Knight, 29, of Kathleen Road, Sholing, said: "Being held in the church, there was always a couple of pianos knocking around. I play the piano and Craig used to come up and ask how to play different songs.

"I remember one time he asked how the music to EastEnders went so I showed him, and then he sat down and learnt it.

"When the other lads asked how the songs in the chart went, they would sit there for about three minutes before getting fed-up.

"Craig though would take more interest and stick it out and learn them."