A SINGER who shot to fame in the seventies is hoping to secure the Christmas number one slot in the charts this year. Mum-of-one Cathy Lesurf, who grew up in Stevenage, has already sold 900 downloads of her single Christmas Time, which was released online

A SINGER who shot to fame in the seventies is hoping to secure the Christmas number one slot in the charts this year.

Mum-of-one Cathy Lesurf, who grew up in Stevenage, has already sold 900 downloads of her single Christmas Time, which was released online last week.

The 52-year-old was the lead vocalist in a string of popular bands in the Seventies and Eighties, including Fairport Convention and The Albion Band, but her first major chart success came in 1979 as the singer with four-piece folk band Fiddler's Dram. Their hit, Day Trip to Bangor, reached number three in the charts that year.

Christmas Time - a folk song - was penned by Cathy's husband, David, 51. He said: "It's an easy listen and a great family sing-a-long. That's why it's been so popular - because it can be enjoyed by all age ranges."

Cathy, who remains a full-time musician, said: "I'm totally overwhelmed by the response.

"I absolutely love the song and I know it appeals to youngsters, teenagers and adults alike, but I'm still amazed about how well it's doing. It made me realise how hungry people are for a good old-fashioned sing-along that comes from the heart.

"People are stopping me in the street and congratulating me, saying it will go all the way to number one. To do that, I'll need everyone's help."

To stand a chance of cracking the top 10, Cathy must sell a minimum of between 6,000 and 8,000.

The single was recorded on a shoestring, and David said: "We don't have the backing of the big guys, but we're calling on everyone who wants a genuine feel-good Christmas song this year to help us go one better than Bangor and get Cathy's record to the number one spot it deserves."

Christmas Time is available as a download from iTunes, Amazon and Napster, priced 70p.