A HARDWORKING single mum desperate to help her daughter achieve her singing dream has been left devastated by nasty abuse.

Karrie Grace spoke to the Daily Echo last week about how her daughter Iolla had reached the final stage of the UK’s original music competition Live and Unsigned and was one step away from performing in front of thousands at the O2 Arena in London.

Iolla, 13, will sing at a regional showcase in Portsmouth on May 26 in front of a panel of experts for a chance to go onto the national final at the O2 in July, where she could win performance opportunities plus £10,000 for professional development and £10,000 for publicity investment.

Karrie, a holistic therapist, said she was left shocked and upset after a “vicious” anonymous phone call after the article was published.

She said: “I feel very bullied.

“The woman was so nasty and she said she was talking on behalf of other mums as well.

“She said they think I should get off my backside and work.

“I said: ‘I’m sorry, but I do work’ and she said: ‘You need to get a job’ and put the phone down. She was vicious and we were both upset by it.

“The article mentioned that I get £1.25 a week, but that’s from the CSA. Maybe people got the wrong end of the stick or maybe it’s jealousy.”

Karrie, from Winton, said she works very hard to help Iolla, who has a scholarship at Talbot Heath School and is now seeking sponsorship to enable her to attend London’s Royal Academy of Music on Saturdays next year.

She added: “Iolla raises money for charity and we are not given things on a plate, we do work hard. It’s only through hard work that I’m able to help with her lessons.

“I really feel upset by this.”