A FATHER-OF-ONE who wowed X Factor judges as part of a four-piece band has been found dead in woodland.

The death of James Smith, who reached the boot camp stage of the ITV talent show, is not being treated as suspicious.

Mr Smith, a builder, from Dundas Street, Stockton, was found by a dog walker in an area close to Kingsport Close, in the Portrack area of town, on Saturday morning.

The 45-year-old auditioned for X Factor as part of boy band North Life, which likened itself to Westlife.

Cleveland Police said a post-mortem examination was being carried out yesterday to determine the cause of death.

Mr Smith, who was known as Jimmy, leaves a 14-year-old son, Jack.

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “He was a great guy, Jimmy. He was the kind of guy who if he saw you struggling he’d do anything for you.”

Other members of the band were fellow fathers Graham White, from Primrose Hill, Stockton, Andrew Richardson and Darren Burlison.

Mr Smith and Mr White started the band after singing karaoke at the Mile House Pub, in Durham Road, Stockton, and they were soon joined by Mr Richardson and Mr Burlison.

At their initial ITV1 audition, the group impressed judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole with their rendition of Let Me Entertain You by Robbie Williams. It was their biggest audience, with more than 5,000 people watching.

But the group missed out on a place in the live televised finals and were evicted from the show at boot camp.

The circumstances of Mr Smith’s death have not yet been disclosed.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “Just before 9am on Saturday, the body of a man believed to be in his 40s was found in a wooded area close to Kingsport Close, Portrack, Stockton, by a man walking his dog. The death is not being treated as suspicious.”