X Factor star Reece Bibby has blasted rumours that the his band could drop two members.

And the Accrington singer’s dad has criticised judge Cheryl Fernandez-Versini for her negative comments about the group Stereo Kicks on the show.

Speculation the boy band could drop two members was sparked after they ended up in the bottom two on Sunday night’s show.

And judge Louis Walsh has also admitted he never wanted the group to have eight members.

On Sunday’s Xtra Factor show, he said: “Eight never worked in a boyband but Simon [Cowell] put them together. I wouldn’t have eight. I never wanted eight. I’ll talk to the boys.”

However Reece, 16, was quick to deny the rumours and told his fans on Twitter: “Ok, about the ‘8 members to six’ story... This is not true it is completely made up - we are an 8-piece!!! - reece.”

Cheryl, formerly known as Cheryl Cole, criticised Stereo Kicks on the show, but the band staved off eviction with a performance of Stand By You in the sing-off against Chloe Jasmine. She said: “For me when a boy group comes out on stage you hear hysteria in the room and apart from the fact you have your friends and family here I didn’t feel it, and I’m distracted with so many of you on stage.”

But Reece’s dad Jamie slammed her comments as ‘unfair’ and urged fans to get behind the band.

He said: “She keeps commenting on how there’s eight lads, we need to move on from that. All the acts get the same amount of family and friends at the live shows. I was in that audience and the support for them from the crowd was great. You could see how emotional all the boys were, the support they have had here has been fantastic but we need more people to get behind them and vote.”

Jamie added there is no truth in the rumours. He said: “Reece is with the boys 24/7 and is completely involved in everything.”