X-FACTOR star Jaymi Hensley met brave 7-year-old Finley Hill who was VIP at Halesowen Carnival.

The Union J singer, who is playing the lead role in the Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat musical, chatted with guest of honour Finley when he opened the event on Saturday (July 6).

Around 4,000 people attended the popular carnival enjoying attractions including live music and dance, wrestling, a dog show, a variety of stalls, food and drink, and more at Highfield Park from noon till 8pm.

Carnival organiser Stuart Henley said pop star Hensley had asked to attend the event in order to meet Finley, who needs a stem cell donor to cure deadly rare immune disorder HLH, as one of his own relatives has the disorder and has just undergone a stem cell transplant.

Finley, who attends Hagley Primary and is from Belbroughton, was allowed to go on any ride he wanted at the fifth carnival and enjoy any food.

Attendees were encouraged to take part in a mouth swab for blood cancer charity DKMS to see if they are a match for Finley or for anyone else needing a donor.

Stuart said: "It was a brilliant day, despite a bit of rain. We had around four thousand people attend."

"Finley had a great time, he really enjoyed it and 171 people signed up to the donor register."

Hensley is on stage performing as Joseph at the Birmingham Hippodrome.

Two Miss England finalists - Rowley Regis's Alexandra Darby and Pensnett's Charlie Jones - also attended.

Just two per cent of the UK are on the stem cell register.

Finley has a rare tissue type, which makes finding him a new donor even harder.

Anyone interested in becoming a stem cell donor can visit www.dkms.org.uk.

Stuart has already said next year's carnival, which he hopes will be bigger and better than ever, will be on Saturday July 4, 2020.

All pictures of the event are by SnapperSK.