DESPITE being seriously ill in a North Korean hospital, opera singer Suzannah Clarke came out top in an International Friendship Festival held in the country.

The soprano, from Normanby, near Middlesbrough, competed against 1,000 people to take the gold award at the event, which was held in the capital, Pyongyang.

But she was unable to be presented with the award at a ceremony as she had contracted a mystery stomach bug, and instead was presented with it as she lay on a hospital bed.

Ms Clarke said: "I was overwhelmed when I had found out I had won, but I was on a drip in hospital and so could not have a proper ceremony.

"It was very frightening being ill so far away from home, and I did wonder at the back of my mind whether it was the Sars virus, but fortunately it was a stomach bug and not respiratory.

"The care and attention I received was marvellous and I had no concerns about that at all. I am still unsure what I picked up, but the doctors think it was just one of those things.

"The only concern I had was that I don't speak Korean, but fortunately I had a good interpreter who was able to tell me what was going on."

Ms Clarke had taken advice from the foreign office about travelling to North Korea because of strained relations between the country and the West.

She said: "The people were all so friendly towards me, and I think they wanted to extend the hand of friendship to all British people. It just was not what I had expected.

"We were treated like royalty, and when I arrived I was taken to a Mercedes where I was given a police escort. It was all so unexpected and everyone showed great kindness and hospitality towards me."

Ms Clarke has been asked to go back to the country next year where she will formally receive her award and take part in the festival once again.