Some fans wait for hours to see their favourite X Factor hopefulBy Fiona PryorEntertainment reporter, BBC News
In a quiet, leafy and affluent suburb of London lies a house that is surrounded all day long by screaming teenage girls.
Its residents, Olly, Danyl, Lloyd, John, Edward, Rachel, Jamie, Lucie, Stacey and Joe are currently the UK's most famous aspiring pop stars.
All 10 of them are enjoying their overnight success, signing autographs, accepting gifts and having their picture taken, when leaving their current residency - which is, of course, The X Factor house.
With its address easily located on the internet it has quickly become the favourite place for bored teenagers to go during half-term.
But what started out as a bit of harmless fun became a little out of hand recently when police were called to keep crowds under control.
Fans bring banners and presents
It made front page headlines, with claims that "pressure was mounting" on X Factor bosses to move the contestants to a new, secret location after locals complained of "noise and disturbance" and "girls flashing" at their heart-throbs.
Now the local council has announced it has closed the road to through traffic amid "safety fears".
"I got punched in the back of the head yesterday," admits 16-year-old Kadra Hosh, from Pinner, who has taken time off work to wait outside the house.
"Police were called and they bought barriers in after people started to get hurt. It's really aggressive, but I love it. It makes you want to come down even more."
Having made friends with other fans she insists it is a "really good experience" even if you do not get to meet any of the X Factor hopefuls.
Alana Robinson, 13, from Barnet agrees that the crowd surge has not put her off.
I want to make them notice me, once they notice you, they will remember you
Kadra Hosh, 16
"We were here on Monday and there was about a hundred people here.
"When Rachel and Lucie came out, everyone just ran. We got pushed into the side of a car and we almost got hit. It was a bit scary," she says.
Sophie Simmonds, 13, says when any of the finalists turn up, fans go crazy.
"We stand out and when they appear everyone screams and runs. They had to bring more police out to hold people back. It does get a bit dangerous.
"When Lloyd was here someone got pushed over and people were climbing over the fences. I think the atmosphere is a bit mad really," she says.
Waiting on a pavement all day takes its toll, as fans have no access to toilets or food and drink.
But for Kadra Hosh, that does not matter.
"I don't eat when I'm here because I don't want to leave," she says.
"I want to make them notice me, once they notice you, they will remember you. At the end of the day they're just normal people trying to make it big."
'Traffic issue'
Blankets and sheets have been hung inside the house to prevent anyone looking in - including the paparazzi.
But fans try to communicate by scribbling messages and hanging banners from the gates, unfailingly declaring love for their current favourite.
An X Factor spokeswoman said the show was "working with local residents and police to diminish disruption".
Fans Alana and Sophie say they nearly got run over
According to newspaper reports, Chinese Ambassador Madam Fu Ying - who reportedly lives on the same road as the contestants' house - has made an official complaint to the British government.
But a spokeswoman for the Chinese Embassy said she was "neither aware of the X Factor story nor the complaint".
Thirteen-year-old Theya Marks from Cockfosters has even come armed with gifts.
"We give them all presents and bake them cookies. We've come so may times, we've come for about 13 hours all together, they love us," she says.
It is not just teenage girls standing outside, however, but their mothers too.
Eleanor Marko, claims she is the official "taxi driver" to get her brood down to the house.
"I don't mind, it makes a change and it's free," she says.
"We haven't seen anyone, which is a bit of a disappointment."
There's a bit of a traffic issue, but the children are very well behaved. I think it's a nice atmosphereResident Lisa Lyons
Despite reports that local residents are getting irritated with the noise and litter the fans are making, Lisa Lyons, who lives opposite the house and is mother of seven, says she is enjoying the whole experience.
"It's not a problem at all. I think there are a few neighbours who are upset about it, but it hasn't upset me at all," she says.
"There's a bit of a traffic issue, but the children are very well behaved. I think it's a nice atmosphere.
"My son actually runs a shop here everyday, he sells drinks, chocolates and crisps and he's doing very well. He's giving a percentage to charity.
It's good for the children, I've got two and they're very excited. But I'm glad I don't live next to the X Factor house."Neighbour Afsaneh Parveasy
Indeed the crowd, although very noisy, seem happy to obey the two security guards who have been employed to keep everyone out of the road.
But drivers, who refused to stop, beep their horns in annoyance as they pass the fans.
Mother-of-two Afsaneh Parveasy, who lives nearby, agrees the fans have "impacted" the residents.
"This is a quiet area so it's quite interesting to get this commotion going on, it's all rather ridiculous," she says.
"That road is never busy and we've had to park miles away - it has impacted us, but it's good for the children, I've got two and they're very excited.
"But I'm glad I don't live next to the X Factor house."
