SHE MAY not have had a leading role but Chemmane Applewaite is believed to be the first person from Basingstoke to sing on a chart-topping single.

Chemmane and her fellow Kandy Rain bandmates joined fellow finalists from The X Factor in producing a cover version of the Michael Jackson hit You Are Not Alone to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The CD shot to the top of the UK charts last Sunday, selling more than 193,000 copies – making it the second highest-selling single this year.

Chemmane, 26, from Brighton Hill, and Kandy Rain were the first of the 12 acts to be voted out of the live finals.

But she said that the number one record more than made up for that, adding: “It’s really good news. Everyone is really excited and it’s very rewarding, especially as all the money raised from the sale goes to help the kids at Great Ormond Street Hospital.”

The former dance teacher was performing at a gig in Ireland when she heard that the CD had hit the top spot.

She is now looking forward to going back on the The X Factor for the final live show on December 13, when the winner will be announced.

She said: “I don’t know what we will be doing on the show but we are going back. It’s gone really quickly and no one knows who’s going to be in the final but I would love Stacey Solomon or Olly Murs to win.”

Chemmane has been mingling with the stars since leaving The X Factor, and recently took part in a charity basketball match with 2008 X Factor stars JLS, who have been one of the hottest bands of 2009.

She said: “It’s all been really exciting and we [Kandy Rain] have been really busy. We have done lots of gigs but I can’t say much more than that about what we have lined up for the future.”