Collier Row teenager Amy Mottram impresses judges on ITV's X Factor over the weekend

A 16-year-old Collier Row girl impressed X Factor judges with her singing over the weekend.

Amy Mottram sang a cover of Adele’s One and Only for the ITV show and received a standing ovation from guest judge Leona Lewis and regular judges Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh and Tulisa Contostavlos.

Amy, armed with her 40-strong team of friends and family, went to the 02 arena in March for the audition which was aired yesterday. She said it was difficult keeping it quiet since then, but said sitting her GCSEs at Bower Park School helped to distract her.

She said: “I was really nervous, but once I got on stage I went into my own world. I had the most amazing time being on stage, and the feedback from the judges was madness.

“I can’t believe that I got good comments from my idols, especially Gary Barlow, who is a singing legend and Leona Lewis who has been in this position before. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

“Everyone was standing up and clapping for me, which was quite overwhelming because I had never done anything like that before.”

Amy said she has taken part in karaoke and open mic competitions in Havering but has never had any formal vocal training. She was a keen performer during her drama classes though at Bower Park School before she left this summer.

Her drama teacher Eddie Aylett said: “She was a pleasure to teach and has been a role model for younger pupils leading our GLEE Club

“Amy was also the lead in the Young American show singing Lion King, for two years on the trot and was selected to sing at the London Palladium with other students from Bower Park School to open the Olympics in March.”

Amy has a place at Ardleigh Green College to study music, but has put the place on hold until she sees how far she can get in the competition.

She added: “I just want to be able to perform, write my own music and share it with everyone. That’s the ultimate dream.”