THE North-East was celebrating X Factor glory for the second time in three years last night as girl group Little Mix were crowned winners.

The girl group, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall, both 18 and from South Shields, Jesy Nelson, 20, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 19, beat off tough competition from Marcus Collins, of Liverpool and Middlesbrough’s Amelia Lily in a two-part final at Wembley Arena.

Ms Edwards and Ms Thirlwall join Joe McElderry as X Factor winners from the North-East town.

The girls were stunned when the result was announced but Ms Thirlwall said: “We are so grateful and thankful to everyone who has voted and everyone backstage.”

Little Mix, who were mentored by Tulisa Contostavlos, is now hoping they can claim the Christmas number one spot with their version of Damien Rice’s Cannonball.