ONE MINUTE mother-of-two Sharon Johnson was sitting at home at her computer, the next she was welcoming international celebrity Craig David into her home.

Craig had popped back to visit the Holyrood estate where he grew up as part of a day packed with interviews and personal appearances in Southampton, culminating in a free concert at the Rose Bowl.

But he still managed to make an unscheduled stop at the flat in Queens House on the Holyrood estate - much to the surprise of its current residents.

"It's not every day you get someone famous knocking at your door," said Sharon, 33.

"I was on my PC when I heard all this noise outside. I looked over my balcony and saw Craig David with a camera crew so I invited him up.

"He said we'd done a good job decorating the flat. His old room is the only one we haven't decorated yet."

Sharon and her family knew that they were living in Craig David's old home, but that did not prepare them for the surprise of having him arrive on their doorstep.

"I nearly passed out," said Daniel, 17, Sharon's son.

Craig chatted with Daniel about football, where he made his first single and what posters he used to have on his wall. The star got on so well with the family that he gave them VIP tickets for his concert at the Rose Bowl.

"The flat was where I wrote all the first album," said Craig, when we caught up with him at the Friends Provident St Mary's Stadium.

"I was really surprised by the way it looked in there. For some reason, maybe I've got taller, but everything seemed really small, like I was touching the ceiling.

"They've made the house look really lovely inside but my old bedroom is still the same. It has the same decorations on the wall, the same plaster chipping off where I had my J-Lo and Mariah Carey posters."

Craig also visited the Afro-Caribbean Centre in Newtown where he first DJ'd, but didn't have time to pop into the house he bought for his mum in Chilworth.

"She came to the Bournemouth gig last night but I can't stay with her tonight because I've got to be in Bahrain tomorrow," he said.

The excitement continued in the afternoon at HMV in Above Bar, where 300 fans got the chance to meet Craig and get their albums, posters - and, in at least one case, knickers - signed by the superstar.

Some devoted youngsters had queued since early morning to get one of the wristbands that would allow them into the exclusive signing. The first 20 also received tickets to last night's concert - as did many others when Craig's generous nature got the better of him.

Strolling nonchalantly down the HMV staircase, sporting a pair of trendy sunglasses and his trademark diamond medallion, the home-coming star was greeted by a collective scream from the fans.

Among those who got to meet Craig was 13-year-old Victoria Masters, of Winston Close, Maybush.

Victoria, who has Down's syndrome, delighted Craig by singing and dancing for him.

Her mum Amanda said: "Victoria's a huge fan. She's got both of his albums. Craig was really down to earth and asked her to sing her favourite song.

"Victoria definitely entertained him and the crowd."

Cindy Vidler, 38, of Brownhill Road, North Baddesley, brought a copy of the Daily Echo with her so that Craig could sign a story about him.

"My daughter is a huge fan. It's been a struggle for me to bring up my kids on my own so to see how well he's done has been an inspiration," she said.

Many of the fans who had flocked to HMV knew Craig - or knew someone who knew him - from his days as a music-mad schoolboy.

"My sister used to go to school with him but this is the first time I've met him," said Pearl Antoniou, 13, from Shirley.

"We saw him last night in concert and he was brilliant."

CRAIG'S SCHEDULE:

9.45am-10.45am: Interviews for Ocean FM and Power FM

11.15am-12.30pm: Visit to Holyrood Estate where Craig grew up and the Afro Caribbean Centre in Newtown where he was first a DJ.

Craig popped into his old flat in Queens House and had a look round his old room before heading to the Afro Caribbean centre where he did a small DJ set.

1pm-2.30pm: Personal appearance at HMV Southampton. Craig signed autographs and chatted with his enthusiastic fans.

3pm-4pm: Photo call at the Friends Provident St Mary's Stadium in support of the Racism Just Ain't Saintly campaign. Kick-about on the pitch with James Beattie, Jason Dodd and Gordon Strachan.

4pm-4.20pm: Interviews with members of the local and national media.

4.30pm: Sound check at the Rose Bowl, home of Hampshire Cricket.

8pm: The concert begins.