EAST Lancashire workers are helping send X Factor winner Leona Lewis on her way to becoming the Christmas Number One.

The workers at Entertainment Distribution Company (EDC), based in Philips Road, Whitebirk, produced thousands of copies of her single within minutes of her winning the TV talent contest on Saturday.

Presenter Andi Peters broadcast live from the site on Saturday night as he pressed the button which started the pressing of the single "A Moment Like This".

The single, which has generated one million advanced orders, is judged a near certainty to make it to Christmas Number One, although it faces a race against time as it is only released on Wednesday.

Last year the firm helped 2005 X Factor winner Shane Ward get to Christmas Number One with his debut single "That's My Goal".

Leona, watching on as her CD went into production in Blackburn, described her victory and prize of a £1million record deal as a "dream come true".

She said: "I'm just shocked. It's unbelievable. I feel like my dream has come true, the dream I've been dreaming since a little girl has come true."

The 21 year old, from London, beat rival Ray Quinn, 18, in the final to become the first woman to win or reach the final.

She added: "There were points I thought, You know what, I don't know if this is going to happen.' EDC, formerly known as Deluxe Global Media Services, was taken over by American firm Glenayre Technologies this summer in a $6million deal.

At the time bosses said they expected to make $4million a year from the firm.

The Blackburn company was founded in 1980 and has more than 400 employees.