FORCES' sweetheart and national treasure Vera Lynn celebrated her centenary this year.

Latest album 100 has just been named 2017's best-selling LP by a female artist

Now audiences can follow her story in a special tribute show starring classically-trained soprano Samantha.

The plumber's daughter hailed from East Ham and started performing in working men's clubs at the tender age of just seven.

By the age of 14 she was singing with dance bands and worked her way up to the top acts in the land which paved the way to her incredible wartime popularity and beyond.

The Vera Lynn Story is an authentic stage musical which sees Samantha taking the role of Dame Vera, beautifully capturing her warmth and spirit as she sings her most famous songs.

Samantha ignored her careers advisor's less than encouraging advice to get a job in a call centre and pursued her dream of becoming a professional singer.

She went pro in 2014, performing her show Samantha Sings The Shows. The following year she took her Backstage Cabaret show to London and then to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

She also has shows featuring the music of Vera Lynn and the Seekers.

The Vera Lynn Story is at the Princes Theatre on Friday***OCT13*** at 7.30pm. Tickets are £18 from the box office on 01255 686633.