Tribute to Telford pupil Annie-May Johnson has the X Factor

The singer, who impressed fans when he made it to the boot camp stage of the programme before being controversially eliminated, sang to pupils at the Charlton School, in Wellington.

The concert was organised to raise money in memory of former pupil Annie-May Johnson, who died last year.

Whelan, from Wolverhampton, performed to hundreds of Year 8 and 9 pupils at the school, in Severn Drive.

He had been tipped as a favourite among fans on X Factor after performing Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love in his first audition.

However he criticised the show after losing out to Essex boy Rylan Clark at boot camp.

Annie-May, 11, was in Year 7 at the school when she died after suffering a brain haemorrhage on February 10 last year.

Theresa Alexander, head of Year 8, said Annie-May's fellow pupils wanted to do something in her memory and hoped to buy a bench for the school grounds.

However the youngsters were finding it difficult to raise the money.

Miss Alexander said: "Joseph Whelan said he would do a free concert as long as it was in aid of charity.

"We are raising money for a bench in memory of Annie-May at the school so it seemed a good reason to get him to come here.

"Any money left over will go to the Diana, Princess of Wales Children's Hospital in Birmingham."

She said they hoped to have raised nearly £400 after charging pupils to watch the gig.

They now hope to have the bench in place before the end of the spring term.

Miss Alexander described Whelan's visit as 'fantastic' and said the youngsters have been very 'excitable' when they realised who was visiting the school.

Around 500 pupils in Year 8 – Annie-May's classmates – and Year 9 enjoyed the show, which was followed by a question and answer session.

Miss Alexander said: "It was brilliant. He was here for about two hours in total. He played for about half an hour and for the last 15 minutes he had his photograph taken with pupils. There was such a massive queue for him."

The youngsters were treated to renditions of U2's With or Without You, Bon Jovi's Always, Ed Sheeran's Lego House and Leonard Cohen's Hallalejuh as well as Whelan's own composition, Surrender.

Miss Alexander said: "There was a very positive response and I am really chuffed with how it went.

"He went down very well with the kids and was brilliant."

Annie-May died at the children's hospital on February 10 from heart failure after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

She had been diagnosed with hydrocephalus – fluid on the brain – at the age of 10 after the problem was spotted during a routine eye test.

She had emergency surgery and was thought to have made a full recovery.

Before her death, Annie-May held a coffee morning and raised £803 for the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.

Last year kind-hearted pupils at the school set themselves the target of raising £1,000 in her memory for SHINE and the Diana, Princess of Wales, Children's Hospital, Birmingham.

The youngsters have organised various fundraising events including a one mile sponsored run and a mini-fete.

By Ann Clarkson and Judith Sanders