X Factor hopefuls Ella Henderson and Michael Parsons through to judges' houses

THEY did it!

Both local X Factor hopefuls have made it through to judges' houses.

Last night, in the second of a weekend Boot Camp double camp, Tetney teenager Ella Henderson and Cleethorpes-born Michael Parsons, of band GMD3, found out they had beaten off stiff competition to make it to judges' houses – one step away from the coveted live shows.

Ella, 16, is in the girls category, mentored by last year's winner Tulisa, and the bands are being looked after by Louis Walsh.

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Next weekend will see them battle it out with five other acts in their category to make it to the last three – Ella in St Lucia with Tulisa's guest Tinie Tempah, and Michael in Las Vegas with judge Sharon Osbourne, who will be helping Louis to make his decision.

Both acts were relieved to survive the brutal first cut before Boot Camp even got underway in Liverpool – viewers on Saturday night saw scores of them sent home without even being given the chance to sing.

But Ella and GMD3 were among the lucky last ones standing and were told at the end of Saturday night's show they would be performing in front of 5,000 people the following day.

Ella sang her own version of Believe by Cher, which amazed the judges and made Nicole Scherzinger cry. She told the judges she felt incredible after her performance.

And GMD3 made it through at the very last minute in an acapella sing-off against Triple J.

Simon Cowell made his first appearance of the season when he rang each of the judges up from Miami, where he is filming the US version of the show, to tell them which category they would be mentoring.

Gary Barlow is looking after the older singers, and Nicole Scherzinger has the boys.

Ella's dad Sean told the Telegraph he was "the proudest parent in the world".

"Ella is very down to earth and she doesn't let any of it go to her head," Sean said.

"After her first audition she woke up with 2,400 hits on Youtube and thousands of friends on Facebook and followers on Twitter.

"She is very mature for her age and many people think she's older than she is and I think it helps when it comes down to interviews.

"All of Ella's family have been supportive and we will keep supporting her every step of the way."

Michael now lives in Windsor, but is a former Humberston School pupil and has family still in the area.

His delighted grandma Patricia Ansett, 76, who lives in Cleethorpes, said: "They have worked very hard and we are very proud of all they have achieved so far.

"I wish them all the best at the judges' houses, they were wonderful at Boot Camp."