Oxfordshire schoolgirl Zoe Mace wants to meet the officials who threw her hit album out of the classical chart.

Zoe Mace's CD is not 'classical' enough for the chart, say its organisers

The CD Songs for My Sister, featuring Zoe, 10, reached number two in the chart, pushing Julian Lloyd Webber into third place.

The de-listing, because it was not "classical" enough, is the third blow for the album, after Radio Two, the UK's most listened to station, refused to play it.

Another setback happened when the Treasury refused to waive the £2 VAT paid on each copy of the £9.99 CD sold.

Zoe, of Witney Road, Freeland, and a pupil at Cokethorpe School, was upset by the de-listing, and said: "I would like to meet the chart people myself and ask them why they are doing this to me when all I am trying to do is raise money for the Down's Syndrome Association."

The CD was recorded at Easter in memory of Zoe's four-year-old sister, Jodie, four, who was born with Down's syndrome. She failed to survive heart surgery at Oxford's John Radclifffe Hospital in March.

Zoe's mum, Linda Mace, said: "We're still fighting for air play. The Down's Syndrome Association in New Zealand wants to sell the album there and Malta as well.

"All over the world everything is really positive but in the UK the publicly-funded BBC won't play her music.

"I tried to find out her chart position from the classical charts yesterday and was told she has been dropped because record companies have complained she is not classical enough."

The album's promoter, Mike Hollingsworth, said: "I think there is something smelly about the whole thing. "I originally thought we would not be listed in the classical chart, but that decision was made by the chart company and having been made I am surprised that suddenly, after a bit of pressure from record companies, they have decided to lift us out again."

Charlotte Rosier, spokesman for Classic FM, said: "We have played Zoe's album on our chart show.

"We wouldn't it play on the chart show again, because it's not in the charts, but there is nothing to stop us playing it elsewhere."

The Official UK Charts Company said that Zoe's album was taken out of the Classical Charts this week because it did not have 60 per cent classical content.

The inclusion of songs such as Spread a Little Happiness had prompted complaints that it was unfair that the album was included in the classical charts.

Paul Clifford, chart operations director, said: "After reviewing the track listing, we found that it doesn't have the required 60 per cent of classical content.

"We apologise for any upset caused to the family, but we hope that some of this publicity may help the album to sell more."

The classical charts are compiled by a third party on behalf of the chart company, but following complaints the track listing was looked at again by The Official UK Charts Company.

Mr Clifford said that the classical charts were made available to the whole music industry, and some people thought the album was more easy listening than classical.

Zoe's album is still eligible for the main album charts which the company also compiles.

Mr Clifford's colleague, James Gillespie, said it was unlikely anyone from the company would agree to meet Zoe.

He said: "We don't normally meet with artists, it would be breaking with protocol."