FORMER opera singer Doris Smith can still hit the right notes - even at the age of 92.

Better known as Dorrie, she provided a patriotic start to this year's Proms' with a rousing rendition of Land of Hope and Glory at her new Dorset care home.

But Dorrie's remarkable story begins back in Redditch, when as a 13-year-old she was discovered singly purely by chance when celebrated soprano Mavis Bennett heard her singing at her father's petrol station.

Dorrie's daughter Christina Smith takes up the story, she said: "Mavis announced that mum was a natural contralto who needed very little training!."

Over the next few years Dorrie 's voice was heard on the BBC, particularly on the Listen with Mother programme.

She was also a regular guest of the BBC Orchestra at Redditch Theatre.

Christina added: "Mavis wanted mum to become a crooner and perhaps even go onto make records. But my grandfather didn't think it was appropriate and refused!."

Dorrie continued to sing in operatic productions and became well known in the theatre, particularly for the role of Queenie in Showboat.

Dorrie and her husband Norman, who was a talented pianist, continued to perform locally and opened a children's nursery, where they introduced some of the country's earliest music and movement sessions.

The couple moved from Redditch to Bournemouth in the late 1960's where Dorrie resumed singing accompanied on the piano by her friend and BBC Radio producer Jimmy Grant.

Dorrie said: "When I hear music of any kind, it stirs something in me and I just have to sing. It has always been a dream of mine to sing at the opening of the Proms. Now I have, at 92 years."