A boy band axed from talent show X-Factor last year after a visa controversy will vie again for glory in this year's competition.

Rough Copy were tipped to win the ITV singing contest but had to quit due to a visa row which meant Kazeem Ajobo, of Selhurst, could not travel with the band to judge Louis Walsh’s house in Las Vegas.

But despite hoping for a fresh start it looks like the band, which also includes Joey Thomas, from Croydon, and Sterling Ramsey, from Sheffield, could be dogged by visa issues again this year too.

It emerged this week that Mr Ajobo may have to be dropped by the band again if they are to continue through the rounds as his visa problems have not been fixed.

Last year, Mr Ajobo, who was born in Nigeria, had to quit the show because he might not have been allowed back into the UK due to his visa paperwork not being completed in time.

Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell has been helping Mr Ajobo to try and get a visa in the hope it will help the band to progress this year if they make it as far as the judge’s houses.

The trio were a big hit among the public in last year’s show with their first round audition video getting more than 1,300,000 views on YouTube.

Mr Ajobo, the lead singer of the group, spoke to the Croydon Guardian last year about the band’s disappointing exit. The band have not been allowed to conduct interviews before the start of new series of X-Factor.

He said: "It was disappointing to leave and yes in some ways it was heartbreaking but it was only because of a technicality, we didn’t do anything wrong.

He said: "All three of us want to make an impression on the industry and show that we have a good vibe going on.

"We now move on and capitalise on the opportunities which lie in store for us."

The Croydon Guardian is backing Rough Copy to go all the way in this year’s show.

Look out for their exclusive column at CroydonGuardian.co.uk as the Rough Copy camp document their journey on this year’s show.