STANFORD-Le-Hope X-Factor star Rylan Clark paid a visit to Brentwood with judge and global superstar Nicole Scherzinger.

A large crowd of excited youngsters gathered outside Amy Child’s Salon as the pair dropped by to film for Saturday’s show.

Rylan rocked up first and was ushered into the shop belonging to his pal and former Only Way Is Essex star Amy.

The X-Factor hopeful, who made it through to the last eight on Sunday night, signed several autographs and told the gathered fans that he loved them.

He was followed over an hour later by his show mentor and ex-Pussycat Doll superstar Nicole, who arrived with a small entourage.

Wearing a hat, long coat and sunglasses, she touched the hands of some of the star-struck teenage girls, some who had been waiting for hours to catch a glimpse of her.

She was whisked into the salon where Amy, Rylan and an X-Factor film crew were waiting.

On Wednesday morning, Rylan tweeted to say: “Today’s the day... I’m bringing @NicoleScherzy home to Essex.”

Among the throng of more than 50 girls who screamed whenever Rylan emerged from the shop and screamed long after Nicole had entered Amy’s salon on Shenfield Road, were Phoebe Parsons and her friend Ellie Instance both 13.

They had been waiting in the cold to see their X-Factor idols for a few hours after hearing that they visiting on Twitter.

They were in Brentwood visiting the TOWIE landmarks but had their day made by the surprise visit of Nicole and Rylan.

Ellie, who was visitng the town from Hoddeson said: “We’re both big fans of X-Factor. It was so exciting to see Nicole, I had been looking forward to it so much.

“We’re both fans of Rylan, too. It’s really exciting.

Phoebe from Roydon said: “We didn’t know this was going to happen today. We found out Rylan was going to be here on Twitter and that Nicole was here so we came down, it’s been amazing.”