CELEBRATED classical singer Alfie Boe has invited a London busker on his 2019 tour, which stops in Southampton next month.

The platinum selling singer spotted Hattie Briggs, a 25-year-old singer-songwriter, who busks regularly at London Network Rail stations, while she was performing at Paddington Station.

A fan of Alfie Boe since seeing him in Les Misérables a few years ago, she was understandably surprised and thrilled when he came up and put money into her guitar case, and even more so when he messaged her on Instagram complimenting her voice.

Hattie will be joining Alfie as the support artist on his 22 date UK tour starting which got under way on Sunday in Cardiff and finishes at the Royal Albert Hall on April 17, via a Mayflower date on April 14.

She'll be performing a selection of songs from her 2018 deluxe Young Runaway album during the tour.

One of the world's greatest classical singers, Alfie Boe is enjoying a landmark year.

Alfie returns to the solo spotlight with the release of his vibrant and instantly classic album As Time Goes By. The record celebrates the golden era of music from the 30s and 40s, a time that is often overlooked - sandwiched as it is between the roaring twenties and rock 'n' roll.

Alfie is one of the best-loved vocalists of his generation. He has triumphed on theatre stages and in concert halls around the world and has two recent UK #1 albums under his belt for albums 'Together' and 'Together Again', made with his great friend Michael Ball. The duo also won two Classic BRIT Awards for Best Album and Group of the Year.