by Jane Lavender SHE was recovering from heart surgery - but nothing was going to stop teenager Tina Dickinson from pursuing her dream of becoming a singer.

The 18-year-old was desperate to take part in an audition of the ITV show The X Factor but she feared she would be unable to make it since she was still in hospital.

So in a brave move, she discharged herself, insisting she would get her chance before judges Simon Cowell, Sharon Osborne and Louis Walsh.

Tina, from Bolton, suffers from supraventricular tachycardia, a condition which causes a disturbance in the heart's rhythm that can lead to palpitations and feeling faint. Prime Minister Tony Blair suffers from the same condition.

But Tina did not need to use the sympathy card - her amazing voice alone got her through to the next round of the hit reality television show.

At first the judges were stunned when the barmaid told the judges that she had discharged herself to appear on the show -Sharon Osborne replied: "You're joking? Why would you do that?"

And Tina's brave actions did not impress the show's Mr Nasty Simon Cowell, who said: "Oh I wish you hadn't told me that, Tina."

To which the cheeky teenager replied: "Why? You've got to put me through now."

"Exactly" said Cowell.

But Tina's talent meant she sailed through to the next round after she sang The Roberta Flack song Killing Me Softly.

She even managed to win Simon Cowell round. He joked with Tina before praising her remarkable voice.

He said: "That's the wrong song to choose Tina after what you just told us. I thought it was terrific. I really like this girl.

"Got to tell you - putting you together with that voice just really worked for me. Great."

Bolton has had some success on The X-Factor with Joanne Hindley and Ana Tanaka making it through to the latter stages.

Joanne, a young mum from Farnworth narrowly missed out on a place in the final 12 in last year's competition.

And Ana, who auditioned this year, impressed judges Sharon Osborne, Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh.

Even though they refused to send her through to the next round they told her to have voice coaching lessons and return next year. Sarah Whatmore, from Worsley, impressed judges of The X-Factor's predecessor Pop Idol and got a record contract, as did schoolfriend Lynsey Brown - following success on Popstars: The Rivals she went on to join pop band Clea.

The first series of Popstars formed Hear'Say, which included Bury-born Suzanne Shaw.