POP star Louise said she was pleased to be back in Newport again as she launched the new HMV store in the town centre and promoted her new greatest hits album yesterday.

Hundreds of fans queued to get a glimpse of the 26-year-old, who is married to 28-year-old Liverpool and England football maestro Jamie Redknapp, and to buy her new album, Changing Faces, autographed by the star.

She soared to stardom with girl band Eternal in the early 1990s but left the group in 1995 to pursue a solo career.

Once voted 'the sexiest woman in the world' by the readers of FHM magazine, Louise, told the Argus: "I am really pleased to be back in Newport again and I've visited here a few times - I remember doing a concert with Eternal back in 1993."

Her current single Stuck in the Middle With You has been a top 10 hit and is a cover version of the 1970s' classic by Stealers' Wheel which was immortalised in the film Reservoir Dogs.

She confirmed she had plans to reunite with her old friends in Eternal and "write songs together".

Louise said: "I am being kept particularly busy working on a new album at the moment but of course one day I would like to start a family."

The singer's natural charm has won over many fans and included the first person in the queue to get the new album signed, Caerleon Comprehensive student Clare Coxshall, aged 17.

Clare exchanged a few words with the star and explained why she is a fan: "Louise is such a lovely person and I think her music's great."

The new HMV store is in Commercial Street, Newport.