Cher Lloyd’s security has been beefed up after she was followed by a ‘crazed’ fan.

The flame-haired singer got a fright when a man managed to get past security at Liverpool’s Radisson Blu hotel, where she was staying this week for The X Factor live tour.

An alert was raised after the stranger managed to get into a private area of the hotel, usually only used by staff, the Daily Star reports. “Cher asked for a secret hidden door normally only used by the staff to be opened so she could enjoy a sneaky cigarette without him seeing her but somehow he managed to find it,” a hotel worker said. “Cher was so frightened she started banging on a back door and screaming to be let back in.”

They added that the 17-year-old became anxious when dozens of flowers and teddy bears were delivered to the hotel for her. “Cher’s really freaked out and nervous about the unwanted attention from the fan. She’s constantly looking over her shoulder to see who’s watching.”

The feisty star managed to venture out to the designer shops in Liverpool this week, but did so with a bodyguard.

The X Factor tour has moved on to Manchester for shows this weekend.