A LOCAL woman met her long time idol whilst she was a student in Birmingham.

Dawn Huitson, from Barrow, met singer and actor Shayne Ward, 35, when he came to greet fans after a theatre performance.

"It was in Birmingham at the Alexandra Theatre," said Ms Huitson, who lives on Pembroke Close.

"I went on the off chance I'd meet him.

"Because I wanted to meet him for so long.

"So I went to see if he came out to meet people and he did."

Ms Huitson was studying at the University of Wolverhampton at the time she met the star.

He was performing in the stage version of iconic 90s series Band Of Gold.

The singer shot to fame after winning the second series of The X Factor in 2005.

"I've been a fan of his since he was on The X Factor," said the 26-year-old.

"It all happened so quickly, it's a bit of a blur.

"It was very exciting.

"He stayed for about 20 minutes and then he had to go back in because it was the first night."

Ms Huitson said the experience did not disappoint.

"It was amazing," she said.

"He was everything I thought he was.

"The way he is on social media, that's how he is in person."

After his winning performance on The X Factor and a number of hits, Shayne Ward branched out into acting.

Treading the boards he performed in West End musical Rock Of Ages and Jeff Wayne's The War of The Worlds.

After bagging a role in Coronation Street Mr Ward stayed on the cobbles as Aidan Connor from 2015 to 2018.