An X Factor contestant who missed out on a place for the live finals of the show is facing removal from the UK. Gamu Nhengu, who is originally from Zimbabwe, was controversially eliminated from the ITV show on Sunday. Immigration officials have confirmed that her mother, Nokuthula Ngazana, had been refused permission to stay in the UK after her visa expired in August. A crowd of more than 100 supporters has now gathered outside the 18-year-old's home in central Scotland. The teenager's family has lived in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, for eight years and she attended the town's Alva Academy. 'Rare talent' One of the crowd, childminder Lynn Blackshields, said she thought Gamu had an "excellent future ahead of her". The 40-year-old told the BBC: "I think they're a lovely respectable, hard-working family. I think it's an absolute disgrace that they're being sent away." And Maegan Muirhead, a 16-year-old pupil at Alva Academy, said Gamu was a "fun person" who had given the school a good name because she had a "rare talent". "She should stay. She's a great citizen and her mum's working," she added. A statement from the UK Border Agency said: "The applications made by Ms Ngazana and her family were considered in line with the published immigration rules. "Ms Ngazana's application was refused as it did not meet all of the conditions for approval. "Her family, who had applied as her dependants, were therefore also refused." Officials confirmed they must now leave the UK voluntarily or face removal to their native Zimbabwe. Ms Ngazana said she was not aware of UK Border Agency's decision. She refused to comment on her daughter's elimination from the show. A spokesman for the Home Office said the decision to axe Gamu from X Factor was the "business" of the television show. He could not say whether the omission by judge Cheryl Cole had been decided after talks between immigration officials and the programme's bosses. Show bosses have denied reports that Cole was influenced by fears that Gamu's visa was due to run out. A spokeswoman for the ITV1 talent show said: "Gamu's visa being processed was not the reason that she didn't make the final 12." The Home Office said Ms Ngazana does not have a right to appeal and her singer daughter cannot apply separately to remain in this country. More than 200,000 people have joined a Facebook campaign calling for the return of Gamu to the show. Source: BBC