"Vote Joe!"
That was the message from Newcastle and South Tyneside's mayoralty when they met to back Joe McElderry's bid for X Factor glory.
The South Shields singer has made it into the final six acts left in the competition, and is now only three shows away from the live final on December 12.
And in an appeal to get people on both sides of the Tyne to vote for him, South Tyneside's Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor John Anglin and his wife Chris, invited the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Newcastle, Councillor Michael Cookson and Mrs Dorrie Cookson to South Shields Town Hall to show their support.
Councillor Anglin said: "Joe is representing the town, the Borough and the area fantastically well. He's such a good singer. He's also done a lot of work for charities - and he's still doing his bit. He's a real role model for youngsters in South Tyneside and he's just the tip of the iceberg of what the Borough has to offer."
Joe is a student at Newcastle College's Performance Academy, and so has strong links to both sides of the Tyne.
Councillor Cookson said: "Joe is really enthusiastic - he's a typical warm-hearted young Geordie. We wish him all the success."
The civic representatives were joined on the steps of South Shields Town Hall by South Tyneside Council staff, and everyone united to call on people in the region to pick up the phone and help Joe go all the way!
And the "vote Joe" drive is set to step up another gear tomorrow when his image will be beamed onto the front of South Shields Town Hall from 5pm to 8pm in the run up to his next X Factor performance.
Councillor Anglin said: "The timing of this event will be perfect because it comes just after the Christmas lights switch-on in South Shields so the town centre will already be buzzing. And the fact that the event is taking place in the hours leading up to Saturday's show means it will serve as one big reminder that we all have the power to help make Joe's X Factor dream come true!"
Caption (left to right): The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Newcastle, Councillor Michael Cookson and Mrs Dorrie Cookson are joined in showing their support for Joe McElderry's X Factor bid at South Shields Town Hall by South Tyneside's Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor John Anglin his wife Chris as well as South Tyneside Council staff.
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