The seven girls make up the performing arts A-level class of which Lauren Wiltshire was a member.

Lauren, who died in a car crash on the Fosse Way in January, had successfully applied to attend X Factor auditions at Villa Park in Birmingham on Sunday.

Her class friends contacted the show to see if they could go in her place, to honour their friend.

Samantha Vickeridge, 18, said: "We were all so close - we shared a common interest. This would mean a lot to Lauren - she loved to sing, it was what she did best."

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The girls, aged from 17 to 19, will be singing Lauren's favourite song, Rod Stewart's version of The First Cut is the Deepest, in their first audition.

If successful, they will return on Monday to perform in front of the X Factor's top judge Simon Cowell and his celebrity colleagues for a place in the television show.

Rachel Johns is one of those singing in the group, who have named themselves LHW, which were Lauren's initials.

The 19-year-old, who performed alongside Lauren in a school production of West Side Story, said: "We want to do her proud - it doesn't matter how far we get as long as we do that.

"It's not always about the best singers in this show but what looks good for television. But we've got a good harmony if we get it right."

In preparation for their audition the girls have had extra singing tuition and have had hooded tops made which bear the LHW logo.

Their first appearance in front of an audience was at a Binswood arts awards ceremony on Wednesday night, which was attended by 180 people.

They admitted being nervous about the possibility of being on television but are prepared for any criticism from Cowell and his panel.

Samantha said: "As long as they are not mean to us then that will be OK. They will get a lot of back-chat if they are."