'X Factor's Rachel receives plea from sister

The half-sister of X Factor hopeful Rachel Hylton has urged her to get in touch after more than 20 years apart.

Leanora Lynch, who has the same father as Hylton, had been trying to find the aspiring singer for years before Rachel auditioned for X Factor and shared the story of her troubled upbringing.

"Rachel and I were really close as little children, but the link was our dad and that ended," Leanora told the Daily Star. "He was the unifying factor until I was eight years old, then our mothers fell out fighting over him.

"That was almost 23 years ago and we never saw each other again. I've tried to track her down through MySpace and Facebook, but she's not on there. She is an auntie now who has never seen her nephew or niece - my children - and I have never seen her children."

Lynch admitted that she fears Rachel will suspect she has an ulterior motive and choose to ignore her plea.

"I haven't suddenly come out of the woodwork because she was on X Factor and she's famous," she insisted. "I just hope she understands that. If she doesn't want to get in contact I will appreciate it's her choice and have to accept it."