ONE of the borough's representatives in this year's X Factor may have left the show before the live stages, but a member of one of the groups is still flying the flag for the area.

Sharlene Russell, of Canterbury Road in Ilford, appears on the show as Shar Alexandra as part of girl group Miss Frank. She attended Trinity Catholic High School in Woodford Green High Road from 1995 to 2002.

Deputy head Mark Loster said: “I wasn't watching the show but I got called in and I recognised her straight away. She was a lovely girl. She was always very personable and good role model.

“She was very highly thought of and it was obvious that she had talent. I remember she did an absolutely brilliant musical coursework for her Media Studies A-level.

“As a member of the sixth form she performed at some of our religious services and she was exceptionally talented in that area.

“You never know how careers are going to progress, but she was someone who you knew would go far in whatever she did because she was hard-working and industrious.”

Mr Loster also revealed that Sharlene is from a talented family. Her older brother, another former Trinity pupil, is Darel Russell, who plays for Norwich City FC in Football League One.

Sharlene and her band-mates initially entered this year's competition as solo singers, but were advised to form a group at the audition stages.

Despite only having a short time to gel, they impressed Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole and eventual mentor Louis Walsh so much they are now one of the final 11 acts left in the competition.

At the previous 'Judges Houses' stage, 23-year-old Duane Lamonte from Woodford Green was told he would be going home by Cheryl Cole, despite having impressed with his soulful vocals.