By David Crookes dcrookes@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk TKO's new band member Helen Jones has vowed to take the group to number one in the charts within a year.

The blonde 22-year-old, who was drafted in to replace Katy Malloy, was in confident mood as she declared: "We will produce a great album, with strong songs and it'll take us to the top."

Helen, from Urmston, joins founding members Katie White and Emma Lally, both 18 and from Leigh.

And she is ready to shelve her personal ambition to make it as a solo singer by becoming part of the established three-piece group.

She said: "Yes, I wanted to be a solo singer but being part of a group with Emma and Katie fills me with more excitement.

"I've known them both for a few years and get on well with them.

"Once I get to grips with the songs and the moves, I can see things really coming together."

Katy quit the band after going back home to Bournemouth last week. She phoned Katie and Emma in a flood of tears, telling them she was not returning.

But while that now means the group will postpone plans for a second single, it also means Helen has a fresh chance of fame.

TKO is the third group in which she has been involved. It follows stints in a five piece girl group called November and time spent in a now defunct acid jazz band called Subterfuge.

Gigs

"How could Subterfuge have gone on without me?" Helen joked. "Seriously, sometimes you get it right, sometimes you don't.

"I think this time it will work out."

Helen is preparing for a series of gigs later in the year and it is now thought the second single following the debut, 'Girlfriend', will be released in February.

When asked if she was looking forward to supporting major acts such as Steps and Five -- two groups the previous line-up were involved with -- she said: "Of course. That's what it's all about and I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to make it really big.

"At the same time we want to bring something new to the charts.

"Bands like Atomic Kitten do a great job and we'd love to follow in their footsteps but with a sound that's a bit more diverse and fresh."

Helen, who attended Oakwood High School, Chorlton, and Levenshulme High School, spent two years at Arden College on a performing arts course.

She decided she did not want to act, however, and took to singing instead.

Helen also hopes to pen a few songs for the forthcoming album. The trio are currently working on a set of tracks and are looking for a record label to snap them up.

TKO manager David White said: "Helen's fitted in well and she's a well respected singer and performer in the North-west.

"We're proud to have her on board." OUT WITH THE OLD: Katy Malloy, pictured left, said goodbye to the group IN WITH THE NEW: Helen Jones, new recruit