Boyle 'to buy Blackburn council house'

Britain's Got Talent star Susan Boyle has decided to buy her council house in Blackburn.

The 48-year-old singer, who finished in second place on the ITV1 contest in May, has lived in the semi-detached property since she was a baby - but was never able to afford a mortgage until now.

Boyle has been recording her debut album in London in recent weeks after being snapped up by Simon Cowell's SyCo record label. She is currently staying in an upmarket flat in the capital.

The star's older brother Gerry told the Daily Record: "Susan walked into the local council office and told them that although she was living in London, she didn't want them to rent her house to anyone else.

"I think people were a bit shocked to see her but they told her they had no plans to let it go to anyone else - and now she wants to buy it. She will never forget her roots."

Discussing the other big changes in his sister's life, he added: "She has been given a mobile phone for the first time but can only make calls. She hasn't got her head round texting yet."

Cowell recently promised that Boyle will "surprise a lot of people" with her debut disc.