X factor favourite Cher Lloyd has had to return to Malvern to be with her family after the sudden death of her uncle last week.

The sad news has reportedly hit the 17-year-old hard as she was close to her uncle, Edward, who died on Friday aged just 34.

Viewers of the ITV1 show saw the youngster put through to the next stage of the competition on Sunday night.

She was picked as one of the final 32 acts who will now progress to the judges houses where they will be whittled down to the 12 finalists who will be in the live finals.

A national newspaper said Cher was griefstricken by the news and show bosses had had to cancel plans to film interviews with her family.

A spokesman for the show refused to comment on the story.

Cher, a former pupil of Dyson Perrins High School, in Malvern, has been gaining support across the country for her unique style.

Earlier this year she came second behind Ellice Chidlow, of Hereford, in the X Factor-inspired Text Factor contest held at Sin Bar, Worcester.

Ellice also went through to the X factor’s bootcamp but did not make it through to the next stage.