A SENSATIONAL concert by homegrown superstar Olly Murs was a huge success as 17,000 fans welcomed him back to Colchester.

Nine years after he last performed in the town, before the X Factor final of 2009, he returned to where it all began.

He said: “If I cry I apologise but I know you will sing the songs.”

With the sun shining, Olly’s support act, X Factor 2015 winner Louisa Johnson, took to the stage at 7.30pm.

She opened with So Good and then sang a mix of originals and covers during a 30 minute set and later returned to duet with Olly on their new single, Unpredictable.

The sound went up to 11 as Olly took to the stage with his band and singers at 8pm.

He sang crowd favourites including Troublemaker, Dance with me Tonight, Dear Darlin’, and Heart Skips a Beat, among many more.

He revived his first X Factor audition in 2009 with Superstition, among a number of covers from the 1970s onwards, with his mum and nan in the crowd.

He said: “The last time I did a gig in Colchester was Charter Hall.

“Some of you came but many had no idea who I was.

“It was 2009 for the X Factor final. I got old Simon Cowell and I took him to Colchester.

“Some of you may have come to gigs I did in Witham.

“Nine years ago I was in Bar 68 in Witham.

“I remember inviting 100 people on Facebook.

“Now there are 17,000 here in Colchester tonight.

“What I love about Essex is the people, I love coming home.

“I am always home in Witham.

“I love Coggeshall Town, we are going to take Coggeshall Town to professional football.

“Colchester, thank you so much for coming to the show.

“Nine years ago I tried to change my life.

“I was working in a call centre giving people advice on how to save money on their energy bills.

“I went on X Factor and my life changed.

“I have never forgotten my roots, I have never forgotten where I came from. I love you Essex.”