DIANA Vickers is set to give a free concert in Blackburn — if she wins through to the X Factor final.

Bosses of the ITV talent contest are in talks with council leisure chiefs to stage the gig in the town centre, possibly in King William Street.

Diana’s family, said the concert would be fantastic, while council and business leaders said it would give a massive boost to the town centre in the run up to Christmas.

East Lancashire residents are now being urged to help vote the Westholme pupil through to the X Factor final three so the gig becomes reality.

Diana, 17, who lives in Accrington and grew up in Blackburn, is in the final five. She needs to get through Saturday’s show and the December 6 one to reach the final.

Provisionally, the concert is pencilled in for Monday December 8 ahead of the final that Saturday.

X Factor bosses said the gig would be a thank you to all the East Lancashire people who had supported Diana and helped her get through.

Diana's dad Eddie Vickers said: "It's looking like she might get to the final now, and I think it would be a very nice idea to have a performance in Blackburn and thank all the local people who have got behind her.

"We're very proud of her.”

Coun Colin Rigby, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, welcomed the plan.

He said: "Over the past few months Diana has really brought the spotlight onto Blackburn and it has been fantastic publicity for us.

"If she does get through to the final three it will not only be good for her, but good for us too. Such a concert would be a massive boost for us all.

"We are very proud of Diana and believe she will succeed. She has a wonderfully unique voice."

David Cottam, president of the Blackburn and District Chamber of Trade, said the gig would be a ‘great boost’ as shops contend with the credit crunch.

He said: "I am sure I speak for every business in the town centre when I say it would be excellent.

“Anything that brings people into the town is to be welcomed.

"It would be incredibly popular and stop all of the doom and gloom that surrounds the place at the moment."

Diana is the favourite to win the show with most bookies. Paddy Power has her at 6-4, followed by Eoghan Quigg at 2-1 and JLS at 7-1.

Judges Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh have lavished praise on Diana, predicting she will be the one to beat in the final. On last week’s show singer Gary Barlow said he would give her a recording contract if Cowell did not.

In reply, Cowell warned the Take That star to keep his hands off, indicating Diana has a recording future with the X Factor judge whether she wins or not.