Leon daunted by 'X Factor' rivals

Leon Jackson has admitted that he is struggling to compete with his rival X Factor winners Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke.

The Scottish singer, who triumphed on the ITV1 talent series in 2007, claimed that female popstars have an advantage because they have wider vocal ranges and can constantly change their image.

"Women vocalists have an amazing voice range. They can reach really high notes and often they have a strong diva-like image," Jackson told the Daily Record. "Both Leona and Alex have really big voices. There's no doubting they can nail songs that us guys can't. I think that gives them a certain edge.

"Females always generate attention from the way they look, too. They are always changing their hair and some of their outfits can be really daring - it can be really hard to compete."

The 20-year-old also confessed that he is unsure about how far he would have progressed on the most recent series, which saw Burke and boyband JLS securing places in the final two.

He said: "I don't know if I would have won against acts like Alex and JLS. All I know was that I was meant to enter the show and win it the year I did."