A YOUNG mum has teamed up with Take That frontman Gary Barlow in her bid to become a singing star.

Gary has written four songs specially for Joanne Hindley.

Now Joanne, a former television X-Factor contestant from Farnworth, is hoping the songs will propel her to stardom.

Barlow has written four songs specially for 26-year-old Joanne and she has recorded four other songs, using Gary's home recording studio.

It caps a whirlwind year for Joanne, who lives in Peel Street. After appearing on the X-Factor, she was invited to appear at the switching-on of the Bolton and Bury Christmas lights .

She said: "Things have really taken off for me since the X-Factor.

"I've been doing loads of gigs, switched on the Bolton and Bury Christmas lights, presented an award at the Tower FM awards and worked on a couple of demos with Gary Barlow.

"I was introduced to Gary by Charlotte Church's former manager Jonathan Shallit. I couldn't believe it when I found out he wanted to work with me.

"We' have been experimenting with a couple of different styles but I'd describe it as mixture of the Black Eyed Peas and Kelly Clarkson."

Joanne made it through to the group stages of the X-Factor, eventually won by Manchester ex-shoe shop assistant Shayne Ward.

As part of the show, the former Harper Green school pupil, got a taste of the high life when she was flown out to Beverley Hills to stay with rock legend Ozzy Osbourne and his wife, Sharon, at their mansion. But she narrowly missed out on a place in the X-Factor final 12 when she was given her marching orders by Sharon Osbourne, who was one of the judges.

Her singing talents were enough to attract the attention of Gary, whose group Take That has recently re-formed without Robbie Williams.

Gary, an Ivor Novello award-winning songwriter, has worked with artists such as Blue, Donny Osmond, Delta Goodrum and Christina Aguilera.

Joanne, whose has a one-year-old son, Brandon, said: "We're taking a bit of a break at the moment while Gary gets ready for his big tour next year, but I'm also working with another producer called Eliot Kennedy who wrote lots of the Spice Girls' hits.

"I was always a huge fan of Take That when I was younger. Gary's one of the best in the business and I feel so privileged that he wants to work with me. He really believes in me and that pushes me along. It's been a really amazing year and I just want to build on that."