A singing hopeful with Parkinson's disease has made it through to the final round of Oxford's own X-Factor style reality TV programme.

There were cries of joy as well as tears of disappointment as hopefuls congregated at the estate's community centre, in Blackbird Leys Road, yesterday lunchtime.

Sandra King, 58, was one of 18 people to find out they were one stop closer to being part of Ivor's Choir and having the chance to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Ms King, of St Mary's Close, Littlemore, first sang in a church choir when she was four years old. Now she has Parkinson's disease, which causes sufferers to shake, experience rigid muscles and slows their movement. She said: "I'm really pleased. When I sing, it's one of the times when I am really in control.

"Singing in a choir again is going to be a bit like joy, because you all make this beautiful sound and you have the conductor pulling you together. I am really thrilled. Now I'll go and deafen the neighbours."

John Humphries, who has unsuccessfully auditioned for the real X-Factor in the past, has also been called back. The 50-year-old said: "I must have done something right for a change."

Singer-songwriter Lucy Odell, 29, has also been asked to return and wow the judges a second time.

She is already recording her work with a producer, but she jumped at the chance of two months' musical training with Ivor Setterfield, the musical director of the New London Soloists Orchestra, who will tutor the Blackbird Leys' choir for their final performance. Miss Odell said: "I'm very pleased, quite excited actually. I've never had any training and to train with a professional conductor is not to be sniffed at",

The good news was tinged with worry for 33-year-old Darinda Lewis, who is about to go on a two-week holiday and is concerned she will miss out.

She said: "I'd be really gutted. I really hope it will be okay. It would be nice if I could do it tomorrow."

With every winner, there were losers and one woman burst into tears when she saw she wasn't on the list.

The organisers have decided to hold two extra days of auditions, on Saturday from 10am until 2pm, and next Wednesday from noon until 8pm, as well as today's (January 27) which runs from noon to 8pm.