On last week’s Xtra Factor, X Factor’s Joe McElderry was seen making a visit to his home town of South Shields.

In one shot, Joe was seen strolling down a dingy alley, full of discarded litter, rubbish and even an old sofa. Residents of the town have accused the ITV show of trying to paint them in a bad light.

Joan Anderson, told chroniclelive.co.uk: “When I saw it I thought they had deliberately done it to make it look like this is a poor area.

“Joe lives in a lovely little street, so I don’t understand why they had to show him in a horrible alley with a settee in the background.”