IT was the homecoming gig Malvern had been excited for - Cher Lloyd brought Cheryl Cole to her hometown as she stormed the X Factor.

After making it into the final four in 2010, Cher was given the red carpet treatment as she performed at the Three Counties Showground.

Last night it was announced the X Factor has been axed which has given us an excuse to reflect on an exciting night for the town.

On her first stop, Cher was mobbed by crowds as she arrived to give a private concert to her old teachers and pupils at Somers Park Primary School, Somers Park Avenue.

Ashley Hill, then aged 13, of Yates Hay Road, Malvern, was one of those queuing to see the X Factor star.

At the time, he said: "I got a cuddle and then had my picture taken by the paps so I was made up."

Then the pop starlet and her X Factor mentor Cheryl Cole stepped out of a black people carrier vehicle and into Cher’s family home to meet with her parents Darren and Dinah.

READ MORE: X Factor axed: Where are Worcestershire's contestants now?

More than 100 people braved the freezing cold to catch a glimpse of the young rapper arriving home.

That night, the 17-year-old performed a free concert  in front of 900 fans at the Three Counties Showground which was filmed for the ITV show.

Malvern Gazette:

Interest in the visit reached fever pitch, and 900 concert tickets and wristbands were sold in just 20 minutes according to staff at Malvern Tourist Information Office.

They arrived at work to find people queueing outside their office. A further 500 were given out from the office at 11am where even more queues formed.

Speaking in 2010, tourist information officer Anne Rich said: “The queue of people was extensive. It’s tremendous for the town. We are all very excited and backing Cher all the way to win.”

Malvern Gazette:

Cheryl Cole introduced Cher to the stage saying how beautiful Malvern was before Cher Lloyd performed Keri Hilson's version of Soulja Boy's Turn My Swag On.

She followed it up with a mash up of Blackstreet's No Diggity and Tears For Fears' Shout.

As the crowd went crazy she finished the show with a performance of Beats International's Dub Be Good To Me.