Festivalgoers at MFor next week will be the first to hear Swindon singing star Phoebe Maddison’s new single aiming to keep youngsters away from knife crime and County Lines drug dealers.

Phoebe, who wowed judges in last year’s The Voice Kids, has written and recorded the song 'Look At Where You're Now' to give young listeners a positive message about not getting sucked into crime, and will perform it live for the first time next weekend.

The idea for the song came from mayor of Swindon Kevin Parry and his wife, councillor Babara Parry.

She said: “We’ve been working with the police for some time on strengthening the links between the borough council and the police on things like County Lines. The chief constable (Kier Pritchard) and Sonja Leith, the head of crime prevention, came to tell us about it, and they made us aware of lyrics in some grime music tracks which glamorise County Lines and drug dealing and crime.”

Coun Parry said she had the idea of asking Phoebe to create a song to counter that glamorisation.

Phoebe, 15, said: “I knew Kevin and Barbara from other events we’ve both been at and I was really excited to be asked to do a song.

“I wanted to do a pop-rap track, because that’s the sort of music people my age are listening to and being influenced by, so it seemed the best way to get the message across.

“I came home from school one day and sat at my piano and had the melody and tune all worked out in about 10 minutes.”

The young songstress spent two sessions at Drive Music studios in the town centre recording first the tune, then her vocals, and roping in rapper The Magic Word.

Phoebe said: “I sing and he raps and he was perfect for it.

“I’m really excited to be performing it for the first time at MFor Festival next week, and I hope that young people hear it and like it and it helps.”

'Look at Where You’re Now' is available for download now from all online music platforms, and proceeds from sales will be split between Mr Parry’s nominated charities The Swindon and North Wilts Deaf Children’s Society and CALM (Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Movement), and Penhill-based youth mentoring group Smash.

The Rotary Club of Swindon Old Town raised £150 to help fund the costs of recording and releasing Phoebe’s track.