On the same weekend as the new series of the TV show that launched them aired, Little Mix took centre stage at Norwich's Earlham Park and well and truly proved they still had the X Factor.

Eastern Daily Press: File photo of Little Mix (left to right) Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall, Jesy Nelson and Leigh Anne Pinnock. Photo: Chris J. Ratcliffe/PA WireFile photo of Little Mix (left to right) Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall, Jesy Nelson and Leigh Anne Pinnock. Photo: Chris J. Ratcliffe/PA Wire (Image: PA Wire)

It was in 2011, during the eighth series of the hit ITV1 show that Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, formed before going on to be the first and, to date, only group to win the contest.

Fast forward six years and the multi-award winning band are now the biggest girl group in the world – and boy, they proved it to thousands of excited young music fans in Norwich last night.

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Earlham Park, normally a haven for dog-walkers, runners and sunbathers, was transformed into an ocean of colour with glitter-faced screaming schools of fans, known as Mixers, clutching banners, placards and posters beaming about their love for the group.

But the love was reciprocated by their heroes who showered compliments from the stage to a 'noisy' and 'incredible' Norwich during their spangling set which included hits like Power, Black Magic, Down and Dirty, Wings, and of course Shout out to My Ex.

The concert was my first Little Mix gig but might not be my last judging by the reaction of my daughters Freya and Bonnie who seemed to sum up the feeling among most of gleeful gathering.

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Freya, eight, said: 'I thought it was awesome.'

Bonnie, five, said: 'I loved jumping around to the songs.'

The girls on stage certainly proved to be just the tonic for these and thousands of other little mixers.

There was also support from Scottish singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt and indie pop band the Germein Sisters who more than played their part in the night of music at Earlham Park, which in 2015 hosted Radio One's Big Weekend spectacular.