T HE unfortunate end of a promising gymnastics career paved the way for another big dream to flourish.

Corbridge teenager Harriet Hobrough (13) is branching out into music with the release of her debut, self-penned single Dreaming Big , with accompanying music video.

With more than 1,000 views on YouTube already, Harriet is hoping it is just the start of a singing career after her ambition to make it big in gymastics came tumbling down through injury.

Competing at national level, a fractured back meant the sport she adored had to be knocked on its head.

However, when one door closed, another one opened for the highly-motivated Corbridge Middle School pupil.

Harriet said: “I was really into gymnastics and doing well, so I was looking for something else to do because I was bored.

“I was training five times a week and I was, for my age, at a really high level. After I had to stop, I fancied giving singing a go.”

While different from what she was used to, signing wasn’t completely new to Harriet.

“The first time I sang was at my uncle’s wedding when I was nine years old, and that was quite daunting in front of so many people”, she said.

“My mam tells me I was singing before I could speak, so I’ve always done it, and I drive my family mad with it sometimes!”

Harriet’s music has come on in leaps and bounds since she signed up for lessons with highly-regarded vocal coach Julie Miles, who runs High Mickley-based business Vocal Ovation.

After going for sessions for three years , the teenager says Julie has brought her on in all aspects – not just singing, but performing too.

Her confidence levels have increased to such an extent that she is now the proud artist behind the single Dreaming Big .

The words are her own, and hugely talented multi-instrumentalist Jordan Harris, who lives in nearby Halton Shields, provided the musical accompaniment, as well as shooting an eye-catching video in the local area.

Harriet said: “I love song writing and messing about with words in my bedroom, but I don’t know why, or how, I wrote it.

“It just came to me while I was in my room one time. It took a while to write and I didn’t do it all at once, working on my keyboard and writing down lyrics on a scrap piece of paper.

“I was having a guitar lesson with Jordan and he mentioned he was into production and could produce a video for the single.

“I was a bit shocked at the start because I’ve never done a music video before, but I’m really happy with it now. It was odd watching myself back at first, but now I’m used to it.”

Harriet has even had her own little taste of fame, something which she may have to get used to.

She said: “After it was put on YouTube, I went back to training with Tynedale Harriers and people were singing my song word for word and it had been played at the Wentworth Leisure Centre at one point. That was very weird!”