Claire Nugent was the envy of teenage girls throughout the region when she met boy band A1 at Stockton's Feel the Noise Live event.

Tipped as the next big thing since 5ive and Boyzone, the band shot to fame with hits including a cover of the A-Ha classic Take on Me.

The boys - Mark, Ben, Christian and Paul - posed for a photograph with Claire and signed autographs for the youngster and her chaperone, Debra Burkin.

Claire, 13, who won the chance to meet her idols through a competition in The Northern Echo, confessed to an attack of nerves before they arrived.

"My hands are shaking," said the teenager, of Claxton Close, Hardwick, Stockton. "I really love them, and I can't wait to meet them."

The boys made their way through the throng of fans, signing autographs and posing for photographs.

When it was Claire's turn, she beamed as they surrounded her in a huddle. Afterwards, she said: "They seemed really lovely lads. It was brilliant meeting them."

Ms Burkin, Claire's cousin, said: "We have seen most of the festival so far, and it's been really good."

After meeting A1, the pair watched the rest of the show from beside the stage.