A NORTH-East singing hopeful who narrowly missed out on a place in the X-Factor live finals is planning a series of pre-Christmas gigs.

Kerrianne Covell, of Norton, Teesside, was signed up by Moulin Music Management and is planning the gigs in Morpeth, Carlisle and London.

The shoe shop assistant is also appearing at Stockton Riverside at its annual fireworks display on November 5, then at the town's Christmas lights switch-on on November 27.

The former Stockton Riverside College student decided to audition for the X-Factor after winning a competition to perform alongside James Arthur, Union J and Pixie Lott at the Metro Radio Arena last year in front of an 11,000-strong audience.