NORTH-EAST pop princess Zoe Birkett was thrilled last night after storming into the charts at number 12.

The 17-year-old narrowly missed out on the Top Ten with her debut single Treat Me Like A Lady, but said she was delighted all the same.

"I'm absolutely chuffed to bits," she said. "To get to number 12 is brilliant and the support of the fans has been brilliant. I just want to say a big thank you to everyone for supporting me.

"There have been such wicked songs out this week, there have been artists in there that I absolutely love, so to do so well is amazing."

The Darlington teenager beat fellow Pop Idol contestant Rosie Ribbons, who made it to number 19 with her second single, A Little Bit.

Another reality show contestant, David Sneddon, winner of BBC1's Fame Academy, hit the top spot with Stop Living the Lie.

Zoe, a former pupil of Carmel RC College of Technology, was at her flat in London with mum Tracey and friends when she heard the news.

"We just stayed in and listened to the radio and then celebrated. Everyone is really chuffed for me.

"I'm just going to stay in tonight and watch a video. I'm back in the studio tomorrow so I have got to be good.

"It's been a hard week so I just want to relax."

Zoe, who came fourth in the ITV show last year, will fulfill a lifelong ambition by performing on Top of the Pops next week.

Her second single is likely to be released on the Universal label in April or May, shortly followed by her debut album.