Middlesbrough residents are backing X Factor hopeful Amelia Lily Oliver after she wowed the judges during the first round of the competition.
Amelia, 16, sang Beverley Knight’s Piece Of My Heart during her audition and got four ‘yeses’ from the panel.
Amelia, who battles with diabetes, instantly picked up messages of support from Middlesbrough residents on social networking sites as they watch to see her progress through the show.
The Teesside High School pupil has to inject herself with insulin four times a day. She added: “I have to monitor my blood constantly. It is hard and singing is tiring. But I’ve got it, so I’ve just got to deal with it.”
After her performance, judge and Take That frontman Gary Barlow said: “Oh my goodness, 16 years old, that was incredible. That absolutely lifted the top off this arena, well done. Amazing vocals. Amelia I am blown away.
“This is the reason why I wanted to sit in this chair – to discover talent like this. That was incredible.”
Louis Walsh added: “It was big, it was bold, it was beautiful and I think a star is born.”
Judge Tulisa Contostavlos added: “People work their whole lives and take forever to get to that level that you’re at now.
“You’ve come on that stage so much older than your years. You performed like a 30-year-old woman that has been perfecting her craft for years and years.
“That was amazing, you blew up the stage, your energy was off the chain, well done.”