A TEENAGE singer is taking a step back in time to become Dame Vera Lynn at a concert to celebrate the music of the Second World War.

Katy McClelland, 19, of Hacklands Avenue, Lea, Preston, will wear a khaki, custom-made, service dress uniform, similar to one worn by Dame Vera when she entertained troops 60 years ago, at the annual Beating Retreat at Fulwood Barracks, Preston, on Saturday.

She will perform a medley of 40s classics, including We'll Meet Again and White Cliffs of Dover, accompanied by the King's Division Normandy Band, who travelled to Normandy on the 60th anniversary of D-Day earlier this month.

The event at the barracks in Watling Street Road, will give the veterans, who could not make it back to the battlefields, an opportunity to remember and reminisce about their fallen comrades. The former Ashton-on-Ribble High School pupil, who is a regular guest singer with the Normandy Band was honoured to be asked to perform.

"I'll be nervous on the night because I've never done anything like this before, but it will be a lot of fun and a new experience. I'm really looking forward to it."

Katy, who has been dancing for 15 years and singing for ten, has been accepted for the famous Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, which Sir Paul McCartney helped set up.

She has performed twice in front of a capacity crowd at the Preston North End ground in 2002, at numerous mayoral charity balls and last year faced the Pop Idol judges when she appeared on the first round of the television programme.

She said: "I had to face the judges but Simon Cowell didn't even acknowledge I was there. He just kept his head down.

"The others were really nice and Pete Waterman said I was a good singer but wasn't what they were looking for."

On Saturday, Katie, who studies performing arts at Blackpool College, will be thinking about her Uncle Jimmy, who served in the Royal Navy, but died three years ago from heart failure at 80.

"It will be a nice way to remember my uncle. I did a project on him when I was younger and he had lots of interesting stories to tell. I loved listening to them all especially because he was very special to me.

"I'm sure the veterans will all have their own tales to tell too."

Gates open at 5.30pm and the event, which is free, starts at 7.30pm.