Stroll through Oxford city centre and you might expect to hear buskers strumming fans' favourites by Radiohead or George Ezra.

But Josephine Organ-Jennings has been stopping shoppers in their tracks by performing classics from the opera.

The 25-year-old soprano from Witney can earn about £60 a session when she sings at her favourite pitch outside Marks & Spencer in Queen Street.

She said: "Sometimes it gets very cold but I try to come out three or four times a week - I love it and I get a good welcome from the shoppers."

Miss Organ-Jennings said busking was a necessity as she needs to pay her way to reach the very top of her profession as an opera singer.

She has trained as a soprano at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and is now saving up for the £20,000 fees for a two-year masters course, which could lead to professional roles with major opera companies in the UK.

The former Henry Box School pupil, a high soprano, said: "I hope to audition for the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music, or the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

"I need to carry on busking to raise money for the course fees, which could be as much as £20,000.

"As well as the money I raise from busking I hope to get a scholarship on top of that.

"I try to sing for about two hours a day and I dress up warm when it's really cold.

"The pitch outside M&S is probably the best because there is some shelter from the cold at the entrance.

"The way the busking system is monitored by the city council seems to work quite well.

"Buskers are licensed and then you are supposed to stay at a pitch for about an hour and then move on - sometimes you have to queue for a pitch, it's quite competitive.

"I tend to stick to my two favourites - outside M&S or outside St Michael at the North Gate in Cornmarket."

While at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester Miss Organ-Jennings was awarded a postgraduate diploma from the college and also holds an honours degree in vocal and opera studies.

She currently has a career as a soloist, singing for private functions and events, choral societies, and opera companies around the UK.

Miss Organ-Jennings added: "I hope one day I can reach the very top and my dream is to play the role of Gilda in the Verdi opera Rigoletto.

"My parents Caroline and David have been very supportive."

A member of staff at M&S in Queen Street said: "She has got a lovely voice but we do get to hear the same songs quite a few times."

For further information visit josephineorganjennings.com

Any online donations could be made through gofundme.com/help-josephine-sing