Gamu-mania! X Factor protests grow as fans flock to show their support

By Sara Nathan and Liz Thomas
Updated:

With a crowd this big, you could be forgiven for thinking there was a charttopping superstar in town. 

But the hundreds lining this usually quiet Scottish street had come to support rejected X Factor contestant Gamu Nhengu as she began a battle to stay in the UK. 

Police cordoned off the road as more than 400 fans gathered outside the 18-year-old’s home in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire.

Local support: Fans gathered today outside the Scottish flat where Gamu lives with her family

Local support: Fans gathered outside the Scottish flat where Gamu lives with her family

Bring back Gamu! Members of the public congregate outside the flats, hoping to chance a glimpse of the X Factor contestant

Bring back Gamu! Members of the public congregate outside the flats, hoping to chance a glimpse of the X Factor contestant

The final blow: Gamu Nhengu and her family have been told they have just days to return to their home country of Zimbabwe ¿ or face deportation

The final blow: Gamu Nhengu has been ordered to return to Zimbabwe after the family's visa application was refused by immigration officials

Miss Nhengu is facing deportation to Zimbabwe after Home Office officials alleged that her mother, Nokuthula Ngazana, was wrongly claiming benefits. 

Last night, a show source said: ‘Gamu is in tears. This is all terribly hard for her and her family.’ 

But solicitor Frances Farrell revealed that she will seek a judicial review to appeal the Home Office decision to turn down the family’s visa application. 

Police have taken the usual step of closing Gamu's road to traffic, after crowds spilled out into the street

Police took the unusual step of closing Gamu's road to traffic, after crowds spilled out into the street

Outrage: Thousands of viewers threatened to boycott the show¿s lucrative voting phone lines unless she was brought back on the show

Outrage: Thousands of viewers threatened to boycott the show's lucrative voting phone lines unless she was brought back on the show

She added: ‘We wish to stress that while this is pending no steps can be taken to remove our client or her family from the UK.’

As well as the mob of well-wishers outside her home, Miss Nhengu has received encouragement from politicians, human rights campaigners, and even Simon Cowell.

As X Factor stepped up security outside Miss Nhengu’s house, a source close to Mr Cowell said: ‘This is out of Simon’s hands, but of course he will be there for Gamu and her family and has offered his support.’

Police presence: Officers ensured calm outside Gamu's modest family home

Police presence: Officers ensured calm outside Gamu's modest family home

ITV received 600 complaints after the Mail revealed how judge Cheryl Cole was told by producers not to pick the singer because of doubts over her immigration status

ITV received 600 complaints after the Mail revealed how judge Cheryl Cole was told by producers not to pick the singer

Gamu's mother Nokuthula Ngazana is alleged to have broken immigration rules by claiming tax credits while working as a nurse

Benefits claim: Gamu's mother Nokuthula Ngazana is alleged to have broken immigration rules by claiming tax credits while working as a nurse

At the Conservative party conference in Birmingham, Foreign Secretary William Hague warned: ‘We mustn’t do things differently just because people are in the news.’

But Labour MP Gordon Banks said Scottish Secretary Michael Moore should ‘bang heads together’ and help Miss Nhengu, who is one of his constituents.

Miss Nhengu moved to Scotland with her brothers Milton, now 11, and Marty, now nine, after their mother began studying at Stirling University and qualified as a nurse. 

Miss Ngazana, 38, had leave to remain in the country with her dependants until August 29 this year.

However, she is believed to have claimed child tax credit and working tax credit worth thousands of pounds during her eight-year stay – which is against immigration rules. 

More than 220,000 fans have signed up to a Facebook page protesting Cheryl Cole’s decision to leave Miss Nhengu out of the X Factor’s final 12. 

Meanwhile, photos have emerged Cheryl being filmed at Treyc Cohen's house in Tamworth, Staffordshire, on Sunday night - at the same time the nation learned that Gamu had been given the boot by the Girls Aloud star. 

Mrs Cole, 27, was said to be ‘really, really upset’ after fans lashed out at her for not picking Miss Nhengu as one of her three finalists.

She felt unfairly targeted as she was also advised not to pick the hopeful as her ‘wild card’ entry to join the live finals on Saturday.

Instead, Mrs Cole has picked call centre worker Treyc Cohen, who auditioned for the X Factor last year, but was rejected by Simon Cowell.

On Saturday, 12 finalists and the wild card contestants will perform live for the first time in front of a TV audience of millions. It will be the public’s first chance to vote for their favourites.

End of Gamu's X Factor dream: Cheryl Cole meets a fan outside her 'wild card' Treyc Cohen's house in Tamworth, Staffordshire

End of Gamu's X Factor dream: Cheryl Cole meets a fan outside her 'wild card' Treyc Cohen's house in Tamworth, Staffordshire

Giveaway: X Factor judge Cheryl Cole and the show's camera crew were spotted outside Treyc Cohen's house on Sunday night

Giveaway: X Factor judge Cheryl Cole and the show's camera crew were spotted outside Treyc Cohen's house on Sunday night



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