AN emerging pop star has rejected the chance to perform with Brit award winners Blue in front of a crowd of thousands so that she can play in a small North-East town.

Rebekka Gayle, who has already supported singers including Ronan Keating and Beverley Knight, turned down the chance to support the boy band, opting instead to perform at a show in Stanley, County Durham.

She will join other acts from the area in a show called "talentSTAR.biz", to thank the organisers, who helped to launch her career.

Rebekka's manager, Phil Felstead, said: "Blue approached Rebekka to support them in front of 12,000 people, but as talentSTAR.biz has helped Rebekka in the past, we are delighted to come to Stanley and perform."

The show, at Stanley Civic Hall next Saturday, will feature at least 25 unsigned artists from Britain and Europe. Organiser Adam Chetter said: "It is a real coup for the area to have artists of this calibre coming to perform."

TalentSTAR.biz, which is run by Genius Entertainment, of Stanley, said that most performers would be local.

The show is at Stanley Civic Hall, at, 7pm. Call Adam Chetter on (01207) 284720 or 07740 363 702 for tickets.