A NORTH-EAST singer who made it through to boot camp on the X-Factor has been found dead in woodland.

The body of James Smith, who performed on the hit TV show last year as part of a four-piece group called North Life, was discovered by a dog walker on Saturday morning.

Police have said his death is not being treated as suspicious after he was found in a wooded area close to Kingsport Close, in Portrack, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland.

Cleveland Police said a post-mortem examination was due to be carried out yesterday.

The 45-year-old, who was a builder, from Dundas Street, Stockton, was also known as Jimmy and had a 14-year-old son called Jack.

A neighbour, who didn't wish to be named, said: "Jimmy was a great guy, the kind of person who if he saw you struggling he'd do anything to help you."

Other members of the group were dads Graham White, Andrew Richardson and Darren Burlison.

The group described their style as Westlife-esque.

Mr Smith and Mr White started the group after singing karaoke at the Mile House Pub, Stockton, and they were soon joined by Andrew and Darren.

At the X-Factor audition, the group impressed judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole with their rendition of Let Me Entertain You by Robbie Williams.

After the audition, Graham said: "It was the biggest audience we’d ever played to - there were 5,000 people there.

"But the comments were all great from the judges, not a single negative comment.

"Simon said we were really good, got the crowd going and took the pressure really well."

The circumstances of Mr Smith's death have not yet been disclosed.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: "Just before 9am on Saturday a body of a man believed to be in his forties was found at a wooded area close to Kingsport Close, Portrack, Stockton, by a man walking his dog.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious and a post-mortem is due to be held on Monday."