Jodie to 'step' up for gold (From Barry And District News)

Jodie to 'step' up for gold

FOR ONE Barry girl, there will be no 'Tragedy' in December.

She's off to see her favourite pop group Steps - and all for the price of a 30 pence phone call.

Jodie Hopkins, 13, of Pardoe Crescent, is a typical teenage girl. She loves pop music, and her all time favourite band has to be Steps.

She is also a fan of Saturday morning TV shows, and spent September 22 watching SM:TV Live on ITV1. As she did every weekend, she looked at their competitions and tried to win some goodies. But on that day she really wanted one of the prizes on offer.

She told the News: "There were two competitions. One was a year's supply of chocolate, and the other was tickets to see Steps on their 'Gold' tour. I entered both, but never thought I'd win."

Her parents Pat and Steve have given Jodie permission to use the telephone on Saturday mornings, so she rang up and answered the simple question, 'What is Britney Spears' new song called?'

She said: "I gave the answer, Slave for You, and left my name and number as always. I didn't think I'd seen it right when my name flashed up on the TV. A few minutes later, someone called and asked to speak to me. I gave them my address, and they promised they'd send the tickets and details through the post. It was great."

The tickets arrived on Saturday, September 29, and they are locked in a cupboard for safe-keeping.

Jodie is taking her older brother Jon with her to the concert on December 14. She said: "My friends are really jealous.

"I've got front row seats!"