A NATIONAL newspaper has apologised for suggesting that smash TV hit How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria was fixed in favour of Pembrokeshire starlet Connie Fisher.

Last month the Daily Mail published an article, headlined Moaning Marias, which implied that Connie, from Hayscastle, had been shown favouritism by music legend Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The paper also claimed that Connie had been invited to record a CD before the result of the final show was announced.

But last week the Mail issued a grovelling apology and agreed to contribute towards a three-year bursary for a music student at the Arts Educational Schools.

Connie's mum Jan, said: "I spoke to my daughter every day and I knew her every move.

"She never entered the studio until after the final show. How can it be true when there were two million votes cast on the last night and 1.4m were for Connie? And there is no way that you would be able to keep something like that quiet, someone would say something."

The Mail's apology read: "The story was not meant to imply that Andrew Lloyd Webber in any way fixed the result of the TV show which was fairly won by public vote by Connie Fisher, nor did he show any favouritism to her.

"Ms Fisher was not invited to a recording studio to make a CD before the result. The winner of the BBC show was always guaranteed to take the starring role in the new Sound of Music."

Mrs Fisher estimated that a three-year bursary would cost at least £30,000 to fund.

She added: "I think they have got off lightly. Andrew Lloyd Webber doesn't mess around with things like this."