An “amazing young woman” from Neilston has been praised after performing live to millions on Children in Need’s appeal show.

Erin Kirkland, who is a pupil at Eastwood High, showed stunning composure to deliver a tear-jerking rendition of Hallelujah with pop sensation Alexandra Burke on Friday evening. 

The pair were backed during their performance by a full orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic.

Following their incredible duet, former X Factor winner Alexandra, who took her own version of the song to number one, told the 15-year-old she was "in awe" of her.

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Echoing this sentiment, her head teacher Kate Sinclair said: “Erin - oh my goodness. You were phenomenal.

“You are such a special person and you give so much hope to all of the young people out there.

“Courage, strength, resilience and so caring.

“Your family will be so proud. I cannot put into words how proud we are of you.”

The teenager is a young carer for her mum Sinead, who was diagnosed with a debilitating form of multiple sclerosis in 2016.

Erin, who hopes to give a voice to other young carers like her, was one of four inspirational youths set a personal challenge as part of Children In Need’s Challenge Squad.

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At the end of the appeal show it was revealed that £2,844,182 had been donated by supporters backing their efforts.

Erin’s own personal challenge of singing live on national television was revealed on BBC’s The One Show earlier this month.

Singing is her “happy place” and the fifth-year pupil performed in her school show last year and sang Hallelujah at Silverburn to raise money for the school show.

We were absolutely wowed by the wonderful Erin of @BBCTheOneShow's Challenge Squad in her collab with @alexandramusic, singing "Hallelujah". It's safe to say she's smashed her challenge in breathtaking fashion 💛@BBCOne & @BBCiPlayer | #ChildreninNeed pic.twitter.com/ueARRWzLTL

To prepare for the big night, she worked with vocal coach to the stars, Yvie Burnett, as well as rehearsing with Alexandra.

Viewers of The One Show got a sneak peak of their performance on the programme last Wednesday evening.

They then joined presenters Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas in the studio, sitting on the sofa along with singer Emeli Sandé who was able to offer insight from her own experience of performing on the appeal show.

During The One Show episode, good luck messages praising the teen were played from Robbie Williams, the touring cast of Hamilton, Erin’s family, including her proud mum and dad, and her teachers.

Touchingly, the teen and 35-year-old Alexandra quickly found an affinity with each other as the latter was also young carer for her mum, along with her brothers and sisters.

Neither Erin or her family had considered her a young carer until they were introduced to East Renfrewshire Young Carers (ERYC), a project supported by Children in Need, by Erin’s pastoral care teacher.

In footage shown on The One Show, the teen praised ERYC for providing a space to hang out with other young people in similar situations.

She also had the chance a few weeks ago to share her story on stage before S Club played to 14,000 people at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow.

Speaking this month, Erin said: “I want to use this opportunity to spread the message to all carers around the UK that they are not alone and that there is support available to them.

“It took me a long time to recognise that being a young carer can be tough, but that reaching out for help is essential.”