A SONG written in just one day has propelled young pop group S Club Juniors to stardom and marked chart success for the former Malvern College pupil who wrote it.

Gary White, 32, produced and co-wrote New Direction with colleagues Ricky Hanley and Georgie Dennis, sister of former chart- topper Cathy, and then pitched it to 19, the company behind S Club Juniors. The track entered the hit parade at number two when the latest chart was announced on Sunday (October 13).

Mr White, who now lives and has a studio near Abergavenny, attended Malvern College for a year in 1983/84. His father, Brian, is director of the development at the college and lives in Malvern.

After leaving school, Mr White worked in a series of music studios and now owns his own company, Maeva Music.

He said he was delighted with his song's success, the first he has had in the charts.

"It's great. It's brilliant. I had no idea it would be a hit," he said.

"We wrote it in a day! We wrote the song one day and I produced the demo the next."

Mr White said he planned to keep writing material for 19 and other companies. Although he no longer lives in Malvern, Mr White visits his parents in the town every other weekend.

"I enjoy running so I like to run in the Malvern Hills. It's great, I love it," he said.

The S Club Juniors single is Mr White's first with industry name Simon Fuller, who is also responsible for Pop Idol stars Will Young and Gareth Gates.