Sheeran fan flies 3,000 miles to sing at castle

Benoit Plamondon from Canada travelled to the UK to meet up with Hayley Judge who shares his love of Ed Sheeran

A Canadian Ed Sheeran tribute act who took himself on a 3,000-mile (4,828 km) pilgrimage inspired by the star said he could "feel" the singer's presence in a Suffolk town.

Benoit Plamondon has flown to the UK from his home in Quebec City, where he believes he is Canada's only Sheeran tribute act.

Mr Plamondon is staying with his friend Hayley Judge, from south London, who claims to be the UK's only female Sheeran tribute act.

The pair travelled to Framlingham Castle in Suffolk, which Sheeran wrote about in his song Castle on the Hill, where they filmed their own videos and performed his songs.

The tribute acts met online through their love of Ed Sheeran several years ago

"I knew him from the songs on the radio," Mr Plamondon said of how he discovered Sheeran.

"As soon as I saw a video of Shape of You live with the looper, I told myself I need that thing.

"Then I bought the single looper, the dual looper, so Ed Sheeran, you've cost me an arm and a leg."

Mr Plamondon and Ms Judge said Framlingham was a special place

The two musicians met online a few years ago through their love of Sheeran and would regularly chat on FaceTime.

Ms Judge, accompanied with a sign that read Welcome Mr Sheeran, picked Mr Plamondon up from the airport which was when the pair met in person for the first time.

On Tuesday they took a visit to Framlingham Castle.

"I feel like I'm in the songs now, it's amazing, we can understand everything, we can feel it," Mr Plamondon said of the area.

"I need to shake his hand and just say, 'Thanks man, you've made me a better performer', I need to see him one day."

Ms Judge agreed it was a "special" place and felt "unreal", with both agreeing Sheeran's essence could be felt.