Katie and Steph Bisson got to meet Susan Boyle and others from Britain's Got Talent during a trip to London with their mum this week to see Girls Aloud. (Picture by John O’Neill, 0781532)

SUSAN BOYLE is sensible, sweet and down-to-earth, contrary to national media reports, according to a local family who met her this week.

Wendy Bisson and her daughters Steph, 13, and Katie, 11, had booked a last-minute deal to see Girls Aloud at Wembley on Tuesday.

They had no idea that the Wembley Plaza Hotel, where they were staying, was also home to all the Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists.

‘We were waiting to check in and we saw someone familiar in the lobby,’ said Mrs Bisson, 50. ‘Then someone behind me said Susan Boyle was staying here.’

Soon the family, who are all avid fans of the ITV show, were seeing stars of the talent contest all around them.

‘It was so weird, actually seeing them for real,’ said Katie. ‘Now we can see them on TV and say, we only saw her yesterday. I can’t actually believe it happened.’

They managed to meet and get photographs and autographs from show participants during their three-day stay including singer Shaheen Jafargholi and dance group Diversity, but their favourite star was Scottish singer Miss Boyle.

‘She was lovely,’ said Mrs Bisson. ‘Very warm and friendly.’