After months of auditions and weeks of bootcamp a Croydon singer has made it to the final stage of hit ITV1 show the X Factor.

Ashley McKenzie was chosen by Simon Cowell - the judge of the 16 to 24 year-old category - to proceed to the live shows after impressing him once again at the star's US home.

Twenty-year-old Ashley will now face a studio audience and the public vote for the first time this Saturday night in his bid for the lucrative prize of a £1million recording contract.

Fellow Croydon X-Factor auditionee Bobby Sparks, whose real name is Derek Lightbody, made it to the final 60 in the over 25s category while twins Adam and CJ Neroni of boyband The Brothers, who performed at last year's Croydon Champions award ceremony, were sent home after the four-piece split into two duos.