SUFFOLK’S brightest young pop star has signed a contract with one of the world’s leading record companies.

Ed Sheeran, a 19-year-old singer-songwriter from Framlingham, has penned a six-album deal with Atlantic Records – the US-originated label that launched the careers of Led Zeppelin, Cream, Phil Collins and James Blunt.

He revealed there had been a late flurry of interest from other record companies after the stunning success of his latest self-funded EP, which shot to number two in the iTunes downloads chart this week.

“Other record companies starting coming out of the woodwork when they saw how well the EP had done in the charts,” he said.

“One said they would make me an offer I couldn’t refuse – but Atlantic have been very good to me and cared for me over the last few months. I was never going to sign for anyone else.”

Ed, whose music fuses folk and hip-hop, said the success of his EP – a series of collaborations with rappers – meant he had won some creative freedom for himself.

He added: “I’ve proved that I can do something completely by myself and make it a success. No-one is going to tell me what to do or shoot down my ideas. I’m going to be able to make the album I want.”

Ed said he has already been in the recording studio working on his debut album and said he expected it to be released in August or September.

“It’s been a nuts week, but this is 100% the way I wanted it to work and I’m so grateful to my fans for their support.

“Some people might think I’m an urban, hip-hop guy from the EP, but I’m really more of a Damien Rice-style singer-songwriter. I hope I can help people discover new types of music.”

Ed, a former Thomas Mills High School pupil, had released a series of five EPs which he paid for and released himself.

A spokesman for Atlantic Records said: “We are very happy to announce that the immensely talented Ed Sheeran is now officially part of the Atlantic family.”