POP Idol Aaron Bayley was stunned yesterday when he discovered superstar Rod Stewart wants to cover one of HIS songs.

Aaron was one of the final ten in the hit television series which catapulted Gareth Gates and Will Young to fame.

The former Newcastle train driver has faded back into obscurity since the show, playing a series of low key gigs in Europe. But he is set to strike a lucrative deal with the rock legend, who wants to sing a track from Aaron's new album.

Aaron, 27, has just returned from writing and laying down tracks in Sweden. The song that impressed Rod, Love Is Here Forever, is one of ten he recorded there.

He worked with Multiplay Music, the team behind hits by the likes of Westlife, and the number one, Evergreen, sung by Pop Idol winner Will Young.

Now Aaron looks likely to be snapped up by major record label V2, the company behind the success of Popstar rejects group Liberty X.

He said: "I'm still beaming from ear to ear about Rod's interest. He is a big hero of mine. I've been to see him in concert so many times."

Aaron is signed to MPC management, and was asked by V2 to record with Multiplay Music in Sweden.

"I've had nothing but support from the people in the North-East.

"They've kept me going when things have been tough," said Aaron, who lives in Little Benton, Newcastle, with fiancee Vicki Thompson.

Aaron will be putting his recording career temporarily on hold for the next few weeks, while he takes the role of Prince Danilo in the Sunderland Empire pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.