DIANA Vickers has had more hits than Britney Spears and Leona Lewis - on internet search engines.

The East Lancashire X Factor contestant was the third most searched-for personality by UK web users for the final quarter of 2008.

Money saving expert Martin Lewis was number one, American president Barack Obama second and Diana, who attended Blackburn's Westholme School, was third.

Diana's mum Anne said: "It's really amazing. It never ceases to amaze me.

"I'm absolutely chuffed that people are talking about her and interested in her."

The survery, carried out by online statistics analysts Hitwise, which monitors eight million websites daily, found that one in seven non-branded UK internet searches was for a TV programme or personality, while one in every 16 is music-related.

Diana, who reached the semi-finals of the X Factor and is believed to have secured a record deal, also received a surprise mention at the Brit Awards on Wednesday night.

Comedian Alan Carr, who was presenting the award for best British single, announced Diana as the winner as a joke.

As he opened the envelope on stage, he said: "And the winner is Diana Vickers. Oh, sorry, wrong show!"

Anne said: "Somebody text me saying that Alan Carr was saying she might be performing with U2.

"But I knew that although she was in London. She was busy with the X Factor tour.

"She's starting the tour in Scotland now. The first date is in Aberdeen.

"She's got together with all the other contestants and is really enjoying it."

Top ten searched-for personalities, according to Hitwise

1. Martin Lewis
2. Barack Obama
3. Diana Vickers
4. Britney Spears
5. Leona Lewis
6. Cheryl Cole
7. Georgina Baillie
8. Miley Cyrus
9. Nicola Mclean
10. Katy Perry