After building her reputation as a professional country singer over the past 15 years, Donna, 30, has been crowned the UK's top female country singer at the British Country Music Awards.

Votes poured in for the singer, who helps her parents run the Unicorn pub in North Road, Preston, after the Evening Post revealed she had made the final round of the competition.

Under the stage name Donna Wylde, she received more votes than any of the other four finalists to take the Best Female Act award.

She wowed the crowds with a performance at the two-day award show held at Great Birchwood Country Park, Warton, near Preston.

She said: "It was a full weekend – I sang on the Friday and the award show was on the Saturday. It was great, absolutely amazing and an ambition realised.

"From the early days when I started out I wanted to win the British Country Music Awards. I was quite confident but aware that, in the other nominations, there was some good competition. I was just hopeful really."

Donna has performed at some of the biggest festivals in the country, including the Americana Festival in Newark, Nottinghamshire, and Wolvestock in Wolverhampton, and she is hoping her new title will help secure more bookings.

She said: "I am hoping to get some more festivals and open some doors. This is an annual thing and I have to defend it next year – I am going to try my best."

Now her proud parents are planning a party at the Unicorn to toast her success.

Mum Chris, 53, who is married to Mick, 62, said: "Just to hear her name called out was a wonderful feeling. I am planning a party for her on Thursday, October 2 and anybody who would like to celebrate is welcome to come along."

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