Marisa Billitteri was back in her own neck of the woods to switch on the Christmas lights at Kings Chase shopping centre.

The 20-year-old, who grew up in Kingswood, made it into the final 12 acts in this year's X Factor show with fellow Girlband members Phoebe and Tita Lau and Layla Manoochehri.

But last night, in between performances all over the South West, being in the studio and media interviews, the bubbly singer took time out to light up the shopping centre for the festive season.

Marisa performed The Perfect Year by Dina Carroll to shoppers who gathered for the event.

She said: "It's great being back in my area it's a great feeling performing to all the people I know were so supportive and voted for us when we were on The X Factor.

"I did the Kingswood talent show a few years back and really enjoyed it and won it too, so a lot of people in the area know me and my face.

"After being on X Factor people stop and talk to me in the street and they say it's nice to see me back in the city so doing an event like this where I grew up is even better."

Girlband's dream of victory was short lived after they were voted out of the show two weeks in to the live stages.

The group split up shortly after the X Factor finalists released their charity single Hero – a cover version of the Mariah Carey song – to raise money for the Help For Heroes campaign to support injured soldiers from current conflicts.

The single, in which Marisa had a sizeable singing part, went in at number one in the charts and stayed at the top for a couple of weeks.

Marisa told the Bristol Evening Post she now plans to pursue a solo singing career.