SOUTH Craven's Clare Teal has landed the biggest ever multi-million pound album deal by a UK jazz singer.

Clare, who was educated at South Craven School, Cross Hills, has signed the recording contract with music production giant Sony.

It plunges her into the vanguard of the UK jazz scene, alongside the likes of jazz prodigies Jamie Cullum, 24, and 20-year-old Amy Winehouse.

Clare still can't believe it is true and is trying to keep her feet on the ground.

"I'm still a bit shell shocked. I'm trying to be calm but I'm really all over the place with excitement," she said.

Her new album, expected to be out in November, will be a mixture of jazz standards and original songs.

Clare, whose parents live in Kildwick, found her jazz voice as a student at university in Wolverhampton, where she was originally studying the clarinet.