ONE St Helens punter has placed £1,000 on Kiera Weathers on winning the X Factor and there has been a spree of other smaller bets in her hometown, report bookmaker Bet Fred, ahead of tonight's show.

Viewers will see Kiera, 18 and from Clock Face, and fellow contestants take on the Six Chair Challenge on Sunday evening in an attempt to win a place at Judge's House stage.

Kiera will compete to secure a place in the girls category from judge Rita Ora.

There has been huge support locally for Kiera, who impressed with her early auditions, and Betfred says some of this has transferred to the betting market, where the bookmaker is offering odds of 15/2 that she will win the show.

A Bet Fred spokesman confirmed one punter had placed a bet of £1,000 that she will be crowned the winner in December.