LEXIE Stobie is causing ripples in the Worcester music scene.

The 17-year-old student has a gutsy, soulful voice that belies her age and leaves you craving to hear more. Earlier this month, when she performed at the Cellar Bar blues night in Worcester, she stunned the audience.

Bob Jones, blues night organiser, knew he had stumbled upon something spectacular.

"There is a teenage girl on the circuit who has the best, most staggeringly powerful voice in the UK," he said.

"I'm not exaggerating: she's the next big thing."

While the ripples are fast becoming waves, Lexie keeps her feet firmly on the ground.

"When I finish my A-levels I am hoping to earn my living through my music," she said.

"I love playing the guitar and messing around on the keyboard."

At the age of 16, Lexie, a dedicated Christian, entered the BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year competition.

"This was considered unusual as I was not the usual chorally-trained singer," she said.

"Instead, I sang modern worship music and hymns with a fresh twist."

It clearly worked. She made it to the top four and sang in Westminster Abbey, something she described as "a huge privilege".

"When it went out on Radio 2, I was picked up by Radio 4 as their Pick of the Week.

"This led to an appearance on Songs Of Praise in June 2007, where I sang the self penned track We Need You."

There are plans to record more material for the BBC show at the end of the year.

Over the 18 months Lexie has been singing at open mic nights around Worcester, but she has been singing for her church - All Saints, in Deansway, Worcester - since she was 12.

"During my church concerts I have mixed Christian music with many others genres, particularly blues and soul," she said.

"I love Mowtown - Aretha Franklin is a firm favourite of mine."