IT may be cold outside but the temperatures are rising in Essex as local boy Olly Murs warms up for his homecoming show tonight.

James Hore

IT may be cold outside but the temperature is rising in Essex as local boy Olly Murs warms up for his homecoming show tonight.

1,200 lucky fans managed to snap up the free tickets for tonight's X Factor red carpet spectacular at Charter Hall in Colchester.

Thousands more people are expected to turn out to see the 25-year-old Witham wonder as he arrives to play a short set which will be shown on Saturday's show.

Fans have now started arriving At Charter Hall although organisers have said that Olly, accompanied by mentor Simon Cowell, is now expected at 7pm - an hour later than previously planned.

Security personnel are stood outside the venue and the red carpet has been rolled out ready to welcome the pretender to the throne of pop music.

People have been urged to leave cars at home and either walk or use public transport to get to the venue.

Meanwhile, disappointed fans have been contacting the EADT upset that they did not know about the chance to get tickets for the surprise show which “sold out” within four hours.

Helen Dunston e-mailed to say: “I have a very upset teenager who only found out about the tickets last night, and bearing in mind that there are a lot more upset teens, these tickets should have been advertised in a better manner or sold in batches of 100 and at various times in order to give other the chance to get a ticket or two.”

- The EADT would love to hear from people who attend tonight's event and anyone with pictures they take outside the venue can send them to web@eadt.co.uk for publication on www.eadt.co.uk.

You can read the first report from Olly's gig, plus see pictures, on this website tonight.