NORTHWICH X Factor is no more after the organisers decided to bring the curtain down on the competition.

The scheduled 2017 contest was to be the third in the history of the annual competition following the success of Northwich’s Got Talent 2014.

However it has been cancelled, and the organisers have announced they will no longer be staging the event.

Northwich X Factor has been organised by Northwich town councillor Joanne Storey and her husband Wayne and Cheshire West and Chester councillor Gaynor Sinar.

“We will no longer be running the Northwich X Factor and are cancelling the 2017 competition,” said Joanne, speaking on behalf of the organisers.

“The event has grown, and is now at the point of becoming a full-time job, something which neither myself, Wayne or Gaynor can manage, as we all have full-time jobs and council positions to consider.

“We also have to consider the organisational side of things because of the size of the event, which again is going to create so much extra work none of us have the time for at the moment.

“Also with the size and level of this event the funding each year gets more and more difficult, and is again taking up a lot of time just to cover our rising costs.

“We didn’t take this decision lightly, and we may do another event in the near future after a well-earned break.”

Teenager Victoria Carney was crowned the winner of Northwich X Factor 2016 in front of a 500-strong audience at the final in January. She had been a finalist in Northwich X Factor 2015 and Northwich's Got Talent 2014.

Auditions for the competition took place at the Harlequin Theatre, and although the number of those auditioning was lower than for the 2015 competition, organisers and judges were impressed with the standard and variety of acts.

Auditions for the 2017 competition were due to be held at The Grange Theatre at Hartford on November 20.

The charities benefiting from the 2016 competition will be Northwich Stroke Club, Northwich Brain Tumour Society, Northwich Alzheimers Society and Northwich and District Youth Centre.