X Factor twins John and Edward Grimes, have admitted that they have been upset by the staggering amount of hate mail which they have received in recent weeks.

The pair told The Sunday Mirror: “We get hate mail and vicious letters. Some of the hate mail is so bad X Factor haven’t let us see it.

“It’s hard when we have to go out and perform and be happy and confident and smiley because we know if we slip up they’ll come after us.”

John added: “I haven’t been sleeping for the last two or three nights.”

“Websites say, ‘John and Edward are s***’. I get so upset by it I can’t sleep. It goes round and round in my head.”

John continued: “We were in the street walking to our dance class when a whole family came past in a black car and shouted out, We hate you. You’re w******’.

“All we want is for people to love us. It hurts us and our family.”