A HUDDERSFIELD school is backing Pop Idol contestant Sam Nixon to win the TV talent show.

He won over parents, staff and children at Lepton Junior and Infant School after performing there with his band Fareview this year.

They were invited because the husband of one of the school's governors was Sam's music teacher in his home town of Barnsley.

The six-strong band played at the school's summer fair in June.

It was their second appearance at the school after impressing their audience the previous year.

Headteacher Trevor Fox said: "Sam was the singer. They were brilliant. They did a lot of 70s rock songs like Alright Now by Free and Queen songs. We asked them back this year and they came.

"We were surprised to see Sam on TV after he had been here, but we have been supporting him ever since.

"The band enjoyed themselves when they were here and it would be nice to have them back.

"I am sure Sam would want to play in the band with his mates still, when he can, but he might be too famous to come back to see us."

The cheeky 17-year-old is aiming to win enough votes to beat off competition from Mark Rhodes and Michelle McManus on the ITV1 show's semi-final on Saturday.

One contestant will leave and two will go through to the final on December 20.

So far Sam has attracted an army of girl fans and impressed judges with renditions of Elton John, the Beatles, Cyndi Lauper and Sammy Davis Jnr songs.

The semi-final of Pop Idol will be shown at 6.45pm tomorrow.