Blackpool girl told she could not attend school because of hair meets idol Martinez after

Evie Smith split-dyed half of her mousy brown hair blonde to match her idol Melanie Martinez ahead of her concert in Manchester.

Martinez, an American singer-songwriter, is famous for her blond and black hairstyle - which was inspired by Cruella de Vil from the hit film 101 Dalmatians.

However, when Evie started a new term this September, she was excluded by teachers who said she needed to dye it back before she could return.

Mum April, 35, said she wouldn't change Evie's hairstyle until she had seen her favourite musician in concert.

Now, April says "all the stress was worth it" as her daughter's "dreams came true" after she was invited to meet Martinez before she went on stage.