X FACTOR star Sam Bailey stopped off at Merry Hill to meet fans and sign copies of her debut album.

The prison officer turned singer, who shot to fame after winning TV's X Factor competition last year, was at HMV on Friday March 28 as part of a national tour to promote her just-released album The Power of Love.

More than 200 fans turned up to meet the 36-year-old star who secured a Christmas number one with her cover of Demi Lovato's Skyscraper plus a support slot with her idol Beyonce after notching up more than a million votes to win the tenth series of the top ITV talent show last December.

Since her meteoric rise to stardom - she's also been busy performing on the X Factor Live Tour, which called in at Birmingham's LG Arena on Friday March 28 and Saturday March 29.

Stuart Smith, Merry Hill HMV store manager, said the mum-of-two - who is currently expecting her third child - was "full of beans" as she chatted to customers before rushing off to join fellow X Factor stars on stage - and he added: "She was really down to earth - she's a lovely lady."

He said she was "really excited" about the release of her album which includes duets with American singer-songwriter Michael Bolton and former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger plus original material by powerhouse songwriter Diane Warren and covers of classic songs including Jennifer Rush's The Power of Love.