LIBERTY X star Kevin Simm today celebrated being top of the pops -- a year after his chances of fame were written off!

More than a year after being named as the losing five in the Popstars programme, Liberty X went to number one, prompting a big party at the home of Kevin's parents.

And with the group starting to win fans in other countries, they are well on the way to becoming the most successful group created by the TV shows which have gripped pop fans across the globe.

Kevin's mum Bernadette said: "I can't believe it. They have worked so hard. I haven't stopped crying."

The single, Just A Little, beat off stiff competition from Ronan Keating, who was number one last week, and Enrique Iglesias, whose new entry single Escape is at number three.

Kevin, who lived with his parents at the Royal Hotel in Abbey Village before Popstars, was celebrating on the way back to London after spending the day at the star-studded Soccer Sixes charity event in Liverpool.

He said: "We're all absolutely speechless and gobsmacked.

"We were number one in the midweek charts and number one in the airplay charts and to hear we were number one in the top 40 was the best feeling in the world.

"I never thought it could get so good just being a young lad from Chorley.

"I keep on having to pinch myself, I still can't believe it. We won't stop partying now.

"I can't thank everyone enough for how they've got behind us."

Bernadette, who, along with husband Stephen recently left the Royal and moved to Leyland, held a chart party to celebrate her son's success.

Last year, Kevin credited his mum with being the driving force behind his career in music. After failing to crack the Lancashire club circuit, he was about to join the army before she persuaded him to audition for Popstars.

After coming in the losing five of the show, the so-called Flopstars vowed to seek out success and went looking for a record company.

Last summer, they signed for Richard Branson's V2 label for a rumoured £1.6million and released their debut single, Think It Over, which entered the charts at number five. Their second single, Doing It, reached number 13. Then the group were forced to change their name after losing a high court battle against another group called Liberty.

The next step for the group is to try and break Europe and America. Music industry insiders reckon the group are already on the verge of cracking both markets. A series of live shows are now planned across the country over the summer.

The group have co-written 10 tracks on their album.