WORLD renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli has made a dream come true for a St Richard's Hospice patient.

Susan Taylor of Broadheath is a long admirer of the mellow, powerful tones of the Italian singer who became blind at the age of 12 following a football accident.

Thanks to her family and hospice staff, Mrs Taylor's dream to meet the singer will come true on Saturday when she sees him in concert at the 02 Arena in London and meets the star backstage.

Mrs Taylor, 74, had already been overwhelmed to receive a personal letter from Mr Bocelli while being cared for at the hospice.

He wrote: "Along with a big embrace, kind Susan, please accept my encouragement to rejoice always, and to make plans in spite of illness and to enjoy the miracle of life, looking for serenity and intensity in every single moment of your day.

"And if you decide to accompany it once again with my voice, I will feel really honoured."

Mrs Taylor said: "I just burst into tears when I received his letter – I was elated and amazed. I cannot believe that he took the trouble to write to me, personally.

"This really means everything to me as I have adored his voice since he first became known to me. As Celine Dion said, if you can sit and imagine what God's voice would sound like, this is it."

In his letter Mr Bocelli said he dedicated his song The Prayer to Mrs Taylor as one of the songs that always moves him each time he sings it.

Mrs Taylor said: "His suggested song of The Prayer could not be more perfect and it will be the final song at my funeral service."

She said Mr Bocelli's wonderful letter and music has lifted her spirits and she was overjoyed at the thought of meeting him.

St Richard's Hospice fundraising director Tricia Cavell said: "When I heard Susan was such a huge fan of Andrea Bocelli and wanted to meet him, we did all we could to make it happen. We are incredibly grateful to Mr Bocelli and his team for being so thoughtful and generous in giving Susan and her family memories to treasure."

Mrs Taylor will travel to the concert in London with her husband Edd and daughter Lucie.