It was reported in the Shield Gazette how staff at Mecca Bingo club in South Shields are supporting their local Joe McElderry as the number one X-Factor star this year.

Each week staff and customers a like are said to have been showing their support voting for the 18 year old star. Lucky for them this week, it was the two thought to be the most popular artists found themselves at the judges mecry. Lucy Jones had put what could only been described as an amzing performance on Saturday evening and the two twins, John and Edward, did their usual performance full of fun to attract the young audience.

Every weekend, members of the South Shields hall are encouraged to dial the 18-year-old's voting number and show their support and it would appear that this has paid off

Looking at comments over the Social networks such as Twitter and Facebook and the weekly criticism from Simon Cowell towards the twins it was expected Lucy,the 18 year old from Wales would be around for another week. However, what is being widely descrived as nothing more than a fix, Simon the final judge, made a 180 degree you turn and voted against Lucy sending the vote back to the public and resulting in Lucy being sent home.

Joe McElderry is now down to the final 7 contestants and will no doubt be thankful for the support of his local bingo club.

Blake Robson, the man who announces the club's numbers and national bingo caller of the year, said: "We all think Joe is great and has lots of talent, so we're hoping he does very well and ends up winning the show." Mr Robson is hoping the next time the talented teenager is back home in South Shields, he'll pop in for a few rounds of bingo.  He added: "We would love it if Joe would call a few games out. He's more than welcome to come along any time he likes."