Pint-sized choristers CJ Porter-Thaw, 11, and 13-year-old Patrick Aspbury, both choristers at the King's School, Ely, made up two thirds of the angelic trio tipped for stardom.

But just one year on and the unforgiving pop music world has moved on.

Pop mogul Simon Cowell now has a new choral group to plug and as his new six-piece choir Angelis release their first album, memories of The Choirboys' sell-out concert at Ely Cathedral last year are a distant memory for CJ and Patrick.

Both Patrick and third member, Nottinghamshire's Ben Inman, have felt their voices break, meaning their pop careers were sweet, but short.

Their record label, Universal Classics and Jazz, says it was always going to happen.

Tony Woods, from Universal, said: "We always knew they only had a short shelf life. It's the case with boys their age. Their sound was so reliant on their high voices that when they got to a certain age they would not be able to carry on with the band."

These days Patrick, now in senior school at King's, has left the King's choir and is singing in its Close Harmony Group of Ex-Choristers, a choir-based barbershop quartet.

CJ is still in the choir as he is slightly younger and he still has his voice.

But their appearances now are a far cry from the time when they were booked to tour Japan and America.

One year later and the tours and second album have been ditched, leaving the boys picking up the pieces.

Liz Sayers, of the King's School, said: "Their concert at the cathedral last year was almost their swan song and the end of a very memorable period in their lives which was always going to end.

"Universal got them when they were at their peak."

Perhaps the trio should now take some more tips from the man made famous as a child by Walking in the Air - Aled Jones.

His voice broke, ending his own chorister career, but last year he was the driving force behind the Choirboys as their manager.

Source: Cambridge Evening News