DIANA Vickers’ proud mum has thanked Lancashire Telegraph readers for their support.

Ann Vickers, who lives in Accrington, said she has been astonished by readers’ outpouring of support for her daughter.

And, while thanking their “overwhelming” messages of good luck, she has opened up the family album especially for Diana’s fans.

Pictures of Diana on holiday as a teenager and at the birthday party of a friend as a wide-eyed youngster show the background of “a typical 17-year-old”.

And she had a passion for music and singing since before she could walk.

Ann says that while Diana had never talked about being famous, most of her time was taken up with tap and ballet classes from the ages of four to six and singing lessons from the age of 11.

Ann said that Diana’s schoolfriends had started urging her to audition for the X Factor last year, but that Diana had just not felt it was for her at the time.

“It was all of a sudden really, one day, she just turned around and said ‘I think I will try the X Factor’.”