GWENT schoolgirl Katie Williams is on her way to mega-stardom after signing a lucrative five-album record deal.

The 16-year-old, from Cwmavon Road, Blaenavon, will sing in the live grand final of BBC 1's Star for a Night show, having wowed the judges on an earlier programme with her rendition of Lena Marlin's Sitting Down Here.

But the Argus can reveal that the former St Alban's RC High School pupil is already a winner in the eyes of music giant Epic, which has signed her in a five-album deal.

The company is tight-lipped about the money involved, but the last Welsh girl to sign up to a five-record deal was Charlotte Church, for more than £1million.

And a delighted Katie said work on her first album had already started, and she had been working on songs written for her by Dane Bowers - a panellist on the BBC 1 show who had a hit with Out of Your Mind with Posh Spice, Victoria Beckham.

The former Another Level star is now a successful solo artist and has written a number of hits for big names, including Victoria.

Katie, speaking from a London hotel room ahead of her big moment on Saturday, told the Argus: "Dane Bowers has written a couple of songs for me which I would describe as All Saints meets the Corrs. And I have signed a five-album deal with Epic.

"I am still in shock with all this, yes, and it's really surreal, but I am determined to enjoy it, and it's an opportunity I intend to grasp with both hands."

Referring to the grand final, which goes out at 5.40pm, she said she was "more excited than nervous" and would have the support of her friends and family in the audience. "Everyone in the final is so good that I'm just excited rather than nervous and will enjoy it whatever the result. My family will be there and my friends are all getting a big bus up to London."

Her proud mum, Gill, said that while a little concerned about the speed of events, she would not stand in the way of her daughter's dream of becoming a star.

"I'm excited for all the finalists, and no matter what happens they are all winners and it will be a really good show.

"I am a bit worried because she is still so young, but she has been given a great opportunity and I will let her get on with it - we are all right behind her."