35 Injured in One Direction home gig
Wednesday 08 December 2010
In typical X Factor tradition, this week saw the finalists take a trip back to their hometown - where just a couple of months ago they were virtually unknown - to crowds of cheering supporters to play a one-off gig.
Cher travelled back to Malvern, Worcestershire, Matt took a trip back to Colchester, Rebecca to Liverpool and One Direction performed to a somewhat large crown at Wolverhampton's Queen Square.
It is the first time that the acts got to have a taste of solo fame, without their other competitors and it looks as though they couldn't get enough.
Cher Lloyd looked over the moon with the amount of fans that turned out to support her, especially since there has been a sudden hate campaign against her after she controversially won the sing-off against popular Mary Byrne in the semi-finals last week.
As the pressure really mounts on each contestant, already fragile Cher has had to compete against a hate-filled campaign that has seen her struggle for the last couple of days. The term 'Hate Cher' started trending on social networking site Twitter after Mary Byrne got the boot
The phrase was the fourth most used phrased on the social networking site in the UK and one of the top terms in the world in the hours following the results show.
A Facebook group called 'I Hate Cher Lloyd' has attracted 12,510 members as fans of the ITV series continue to speculate about the series being fixed to ensure the Cheryl Cole-lookalike would go through.
Furious fans stormed the Internet, writing on forums and social networking sites.
'I would have love to see someone destroy cher's ego! #xfactor rigged! #hatecher,' one Twitter user wrote.
A spokesman played down the mayhem insisting it was caused by the cold weather and 'over-excitement.'
'The band didn't come on stage until just before 8pm, but the first casualty was found in Lichfield Street at 4.45pm with a head injury. After treatment she was discharged on scene.
'Another five casualties were dealt with about half an hour later. Three hadn't eaten or drunk all day, one had felt faint and the fifth was hyperventilating.
'The latter two patients also had insufficient clothing on for the conditions. After treatment, getting warmed up and eating something, all five were discharged.
We're tipping these boys to be the next big thing, what do you think?