X FACTOR fever gripped the North-East yesterday when hundreds of free tickets were given away to see one of the region’s two finalists sing live in her home town.

It took fans less than 30 minutes to snap up the tickets for 17- year-old Amelia Lily’s visit to The Empire, Middlesbrough, along with her mentor, Kelly Rowland, on Wednesday night.

One fan has promised to have a portrait of the young singer tattooed on her back if she wins at the weekend when she goes up against Little Mix, two members of which come from South Shields, and Liverpudlian hairdresser Marcus Collins.

Emma Morgan, 28, of Middlesbrough, said: “I voted 25 times on Saturday night to make sure she got through to the final and I am so excited to see her sing live. I cried with excitement when she got voted back into the show and I nearly cried again when she got through. When she wins, I’m going to get a tattoo of her on my back, which I have already chosen because I’m that confident that she will.”

Jane Cartwright, of Stockton, who queued to get tickets for her two young daughters, Emma and Bethany, said: “They will be over the moon that I have got them some tickets and I can’t wait for them to finish at school to tell them.”

Empire managing director Ashley Wem said: “It is great for the town to be able to celebrate Amelia coming back to perform.

There will be 1,000 excited people in the venue on the night and we are really looking forward to Amelia doing so well for Middlesbrough as a town.”

Some fans were left disappointed when they failed to get tickets, but were still resolute in their support for the talented singer. Tracy Barnes, of Middlesbrough, said: “I am gutted that I didn’t get a ticket to see her sing live, but that won’t stop me voting for her on Saturday night – I’m so excited about hopefully seeing her win it for Middlesbrough.”

􀁧 STAFF at Butterwick Children’s Hospice were yesterday celebrating the X Factor charity single reaching number one.

The charity, based in Stockton but which serves the entire region south of the Tyne, is one of the charities likely to benefit from the record. The Rose Royce song Wishing on a Star has been covered by the last 16 contestants.

A total of 98,000 singles have been sold, with all proceeds going to the Together for Short Lives charity, which gives money to the hospice.

Little Mix said: “It is amazing to be number one. We are helping so many kids. It is such a good cause. When you meet these children, you realise how privileged you are to have your health.”