Singer Annie Lennox has given ‘Sweet Dreams’ to Downpatrick indie rockers Ash by covering one of their best known hits.

Lennox said she recorded the jaunty pop song Shining Light for her forthcoming ‘best of’ collection because it was “so exultant that it virtually shimmers”.

The cover of the track, which featured on Ash’s 2001 album Free All Angels, received its first UK play on Radio 2 this week. However, there are no plans to release the cover as a single.

Writing on the band’s official website, Ash vocalist Tim Wheeler said having song covered by a “seriously amazing singer” had left his ego “buzzing”.

“It's like seeing your baby growing up and turning into something you would never have planned for it or expected,” he said.

“It makes me proud that someone of her stature and talent is doing something different with our song. It's different, but still really uplifting.

“I hope it's a f****** massive hit and not just so I can finally buy that guitar shaped swimming pool,” he joked.

Expressing their views online, Ash acolytes were in equal parts scathing and enthusiastic about Annie’s effort.

Referring to her broad musical appeal, one fan commented: “How very Radio 2.

“Could have been worse I suppose — Ronson/Winehouse (hitmaker Mark Ronson and vocalist Amy Winehouse) could have got their hands on it.”

According to Ash’s website, the Scottish songstress — whose hits as one half of 1980s synth duo Eurythmics included Sweet Dreams and There Must Be An Angel — enthused: “I first discovered this song by Ash about six years ago, and I couldn’t stop listening to it. It’s so exultant that it virtually shimmers.”

The Annie Lennox Collection is set for release on March 9 and includes Pattern of My Life, a song written by Keane frontman Tom Chaplin.