She has had a small taste of musical fame – and now Samantha Harvey is looking to make her way into the charts for Christmas.

The singer, from Hitcham, near Stowmarket, is releasing a festive single with all proceeds going to Cancer Research UK.

Miss Harvey, 21, who works as a recruitment manager and cleaner by day and a singing teacher by night, started by singing cover songs on Facebook.

She said: “I was getting about 30 ‘likes’ for a video, and then it just went viral and I started getting messages from people with problems.

“I then had a message from a woman whose mum-in-law was battling cancer and didn’t have long left to live, who requested Angel for her funeral.”

The track is a cover of the song by Canadian singer Sarah McLachlan, which reached number 36 in the UK charts in 2002.

Miss Harvey added: “I put it on Facebook to raise awareness, and then thought why not do it as a charity single?

“My dad had testicular cancer and managed to beat it so I know first hand what it is like to go through having someone very close to you struggle from having the horrible disease and would love to raise as much money and awareness to make him proud. Angel was the most popular song at the time so my manager, Leon Mitchell, advised me to do this one.

“Quite a lot of people are trying to make it are doing it for charity with 50% for the cause and 50% for them.

“I’m giving 100% to Cancer Research UK.”

In recent years, ITV show The X Factor has taken the festive No.1 spot, and Miss Harvey wouldn’t mind challenging the hit programme to the top of the charts.

Miss Harvey was part of the reality TV show, in a girl band.

“We were advised to leave our jobs and move to Manchester, but within 10 weeks it had fallen through,” she said.

“We had such a good time, and I wouldn’t change it.

“I wouldn’t say I’m doing it out of bitterness, but it would be great to challenge it.

“They get millions and millions of viewers. I would love to say that I could beat them, but who knows.

“You have to get a lot of downloads to get it in the top 40, let alone the top three.”

The single is available for pre-order on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon.

Miss Harvey has said if there is a high number of downloads she will look at releasing CD singles.

“Let’s hope it’s the start of something,” she said.

The singer, who is inspired by Sam Smith and Suffolk superstar Ed Sheeran, said: “I’m trying to show you can do it without a massive record deal.

“I’m not doing it to get famous, I’m doing it for other people.

“I can put my hands up and say I’m not in it for that. I’m hoping it’s something I can turn into a full-time career.”

To pre-order the song, which is released on December 15, visit itunes