HOPES of finding their "fortune" were dashed for a Southampton boy band at the weekend, as they were finally sent home from ITV's X Factor show.

The four lads, who form the band 4 Tune, failed to make it to the final three in their category of the latest nationwide talent search show to sweep the nation.

Phil Kemish, 20, Mike Hannides, 20, Anthony Hannides, 17, and Simon Vitsaides, 21, whose harmonies have led them to be likened to Boys II Men, had fought off competition from 50,000 other acts to make it to the last 15 of the show.

But, out of the five bands being whittled down to three by judge Louis Walsh and his team, the boys failed to make the grade, losing out to the family trio Voices of Soul, best friend duo Two to Go and the classically trained male group G4.

4 Tune, whose members are all former pupils of Bellemoor Secondary School in Southampton, had previously come under attack for their songs all sounding the same, and for being over confident. On last night's show more of the same comments were being made by the judges, including one remark that they were 'one track ponies'.

Although he did not pick them for the final three Louis Walsh did concede: "Girls will like them. Girls will vote for them."

Following the news one of the boys said: "We will never give up. 4 Tune is strong and always will be."

Lee Lloyd, from West End, who has managed the band for the past three years, said: "They were disappointed. They felt like they had let people down in Southampton.

"But what we quickly realised about the whole process was that it is a television show. The guys were the most consistent performers. They were so professional and prepared in everything they did. In the marketplace they are the qualities that count but they don't make for good television.

"This was a platform for exposure. Eight million people now know about 4 Tune that didn't know about them before."