Pop Idol reject Aaron Bayley has finally shunted his day job into a siding.

The train driver has picked up his last pay cheque - for £24 - so that he can earn big bucks as a pop star.

Aaron, 26, of Walkerdene, Newcastle, loved his job but, after a brief spell in the limelight, he could not bear to go back to it.

His first move after ditching his job will be to go on a 14-date stadium tour with the other nine Pop Idol finalists.

He will earn at least £1,500 for each show and hopes it will catapult him into the big time.

Aaron said: "Arriva have been great. They gave me unpaid leave to do the show.

"But I always said I wanted to follow my dream. I had held back from quitting, but I have finally bitten the bullet.

"I got my final pay slip for £24, but I have not spent it all yet. I will probably blow it when I go out for my leaving do with the lads from work.

"I will be going down to the Pop Idol final. It will be a night of emotions. I wish I was in the last two, but I do not envy them the pressure they are under now."

Despite his dream of fame, Aaron is determined to remember his Geordie roots.

At the weekend, he will open an Asda store at Cramlington, near Newcastle - and turned down an appearance at London's Dorchester Hotel so he could be there.