Tranent star Caitlyn Vanbeck will fly the flag for Scotland in this year's X Factor.

The 17-year-old former Ross High pupil, is the final Scot in this year's competition, and has made it to the six-chair challenge, after being given the thumbs up by the judges at bootcamp.

She is now one of 16 girls left in the competition, and Caitlyn, now studying primary education at Edinburgh University, admits it has been a dream come true to still be involved.

She told the Courier: "It's been crazy, everything has just taken off in the last week or so and my phone has never stopped.

"I can't even send a text to my mum or dad - it's just been unbelievable."

And the 17-year-old admits it is "quite daunting" being the only Scot left in the competition.

She added: "I met three or four Scottish people at bootcamp and that was nice, but it was hard when they were sent home, and I was the only one left.

"It is quite daunting because I have got to do it for the whole of Scotland, now, but the people in Tranent, and all over East Lothian, have really backed me so far."

She explained facing an anxious wait to find out if she had made it through bootcamp, which was held in London, with parents Paul and Marina on standby to collect their daughter.

"We had to wait for hours - I phoned mum at about 12.30am and she thought that was the decision been made, but it was probably another hour before I found out I was through."

Meanwhile dad Paul said: "I've been like a taxi taking Caitlyn down to London and Manchester but it's just really great to see her doing so well.

"We were on standby to go and collect her from bootcamp, so there was a lot of waiting around."

Meanwhile, among those supporting Caitlyn are her former school.

Ross High headteacher Paul Reynolds told the Courier: "She is a star. She was a huge personality when she was here and she's got a great talent.

"The judges have obviously seen her talents, and we wish her all the very best of luck."

Caitlyn now advances to the six-chair challenge, which was filmed at the start of September, but with different categories to be shown on different weekends, she is in the dark as to when she will appear on television.

"We don't know at all when it will be on TV, we just need to wait and see."

Tune in to this week's show from 7pm on Sunday to find out if the county star is among the contestants for the first six-chair challenge.