Teen singing star Charlotte Church has landed a film role as a paper round girl - and the film's makers hope it could repeat the success of the smash-hit Billy Elliott.

The 16-year-old from Cardiff will play a teenager with a Saturday job, who dreams of becoming a singing star.

Charlotte's first fleeting experience of Saturday work

Ironically, the real-life Ms Church recently spent a Saturday filling baguettes at a family friend's shop.

Family Business, a romantic comedy set in Cardiff, is due to begin filming in two weeks time in London, following the end of the would-be actress' GCSE exams.

Fans will not be disappointed, as the soprano is due to sing in the film.

Her only previous on-screen experience was a role in the ITV series Heartbeat.

The idea for the film came to light 18 months ago, when director Craig Ferguson decided to come up with a script written specifically for the singer.

The storyline and film's title follow the youngster's efforts to follow in her father's musical footsteps, against her mother's wishes.

We hope this film does for Cardiff what Billy Elliot did for the north east

Maria Church, Charlotte's mother

Church will receive acting coaching and also have to learn to sing non-classical material.

"Charlotte is excited but quite nervous about acting," said her mother Maria.

"It's a whole different ball game from singing, which she's been doing for years. But I know she'll be fine as she's a natural actress."

She added: "She's never had a Saturday job before but has been working for years so she has never had time to do things like delivering newspapers.

"We hope this film does for Cardiff what Billy Elliot did for the north east.

Charlotte will sing non-classical numbers

"We'd all be really pleased if it did as well as that film as we loved it."

Last month, Church had to sit her geography GCSE exam at the crack of dawn, during a working trip to the United States.

She took the test at the British Embassy in Washington DC at 0400 local time under the watchful eye of an independent invigilator.

In April, Charlotte helped cricket legend Ian Botham raise �850,000 by joining the final leg of his charity walk around Wales in aid of the Noah's Ark children's hospital appeal.