ELLA Henderson's fans have reacted angrily after the talented teenager was voted off the hit ITV show – particularly after some claimed they were unable to vote.
As reported, in a shock-result, the 16-year-old went head-to-head with James Arthur to sing for survival – but after the judges took it to deadlock, it was the public vote that put an end to her dreams.
Yesterday, the Grimsby Telegraph was inundated with calls from fans who had tried to register their votes for Ella via a landline, only for the line to go dead.
Doris Winn, of Humberston, said: "I tried seven times on Sunday, but it went dead every time.
"At first I thought it might be a problem with the line, but I was able to make calls to other numbers without a problem.
"I enjoy music and used to sing myself, so I know a good voice when I hear one. She should not have been in the bottom two."
David Mills, of Kathleen Grove, Cleethorpes, said he had also tried to vote for Ella via his landline only for the line to go dead.
He said: "I tried to vote for James Arthur, too, to see if it was just Ella's line, but that didn't work either. I had to vote using my mobile in the end."
A spokesman for X Factor denied there had been any issues with voting.
He said: "X Factor voting lines are rigorously monitored and tested and no issues were reported by the provider, or our monitoring company."
Previously when people have had issues with voting, most are found to be as a result of either mis-dialing premium rate call barring mechanisms being in place on their landline.
Across Facebook and Twitter her fans from North East Lincolnshire and beyond spoke of their anger and disbelief that "joke acts" had been safely voted through ahead of her.
One woman, who did not wish to be named, said: "I won't be watching X Factor anymore.
"Fix Factor more like. I was so hoping that Ella would win. I love her voice and I would buy her album."
Louis Walsh had often compared Ella to Leona Lewis, describing her as "the most talented female singer the competition has seen since Leona" on more than one occasion.
And following the result, Leona herself tweeted: "No way should Ella and James be singing against each other!"
Strictly Come Dancing contestant Denise Van Outen also wrote: "X Factor has become a joke."
Rylan Clark broke down in uncontrollable tears over his "guilt" at seeing the show favourite leave the competition – telling Xtra-Factor presenters Caroline Flack and Olly Murs: "Ella should be in the final."
He said: " I just feel so guilty. I can't thank people enough for voting for me, but Ella shouldn't have gone.
"She's like a little sister to me."
Meanwhile, James has vowed to come back fighting next week after admitting he thought he was "a gonner" after facing the teen starlet in the sing-off.
He told Caroline and Olly: "Ella is the strongest 16-year-old I've ever met in my life.
"She's the most talented 16-year-old girl in the country. I thought I was a gonner when I was up against her, but I just want to wish her good luck and say I love you lots."
