THE Carpenters were one of the most successful pop duos in music history.

Karen tragically died in 1983 but for the last 30 years Phil Aldridge has been performing his tribute to them in the Carpenters Story.

When Claire Furley auditioned for the part of Karen by singing Close To You, she landed the job by the fourth bar.

“From as far back as I can remember, I wanted to perform, although my first love was the violin, and I dreamed of the life of a professional violinist," she said.

Her hobby of singing would become her career.

"I began classical training and have been singing professionally since the age of 17," said Claire. "I later met and auditioned for Phil Aldridge, and have provided the voice of Karen Carpenter starring alongside Phil and the Carpenters Story Orchestra ever since.”

The show was originally called Tribute to the Carpenters.

Phil said: "We can’t find any instances of bands with 'tribute' in the title before Tribute to the Carpenters, so it’s quite possible that we started the entire tribute movement."

Claire's stunning vocal harmonies combine with state-of-the-art video projection and lavish arrangements from the eight-piece band.

The show contains all the Carpenters classics from the Seventies such as Superstar, Close To You, We’ve Only Just Begun, Yesterday Once More, Top of the World, Please Mr Postman and Rainy Days and Mondays.

The Carpenters Story is at Clacton's Princes Theatre this Saturday at 7.30pm. Tickets are £23 (£21 concessions) from the box office on 01255 686633.