Church donates favourite dress

Charlotte Church has donated one of her favourite dresses to an auction for the tsunami appeal.

The teen diva has handed over the blue silk dress she wore in her first photo-shoot, aged just 12, to charity organisers.

Her mother, Maria, said: "It's a beautiful dress and is of huge sentimental value to Charlotte.

"Charlotte has been very moved by what's happened in Asia and just wanted to help in any way she can."

The treasured frock is expected to fetch more than 500GBP in an online auction which closes this evening (11.01.05).

Meanwhile, the Welsh singing sensation has taken up karate in a bid to lose weight.

The 18-year-old has started going to classes twice a week as part of a last ditch attempt to shift the excess pounds she piled on over the festive period.

Mum Maria also revealed her daughter has quit smoking as part of the fitness regime to get into shape by the time her new album is released in AprilShe is quoted as saying: "Charlotte only has a couple of resolutions - stop smoking and get fit. She has tried gyms but finds them boring. So now she has taken up karate."