Simon Cowell lowers X Factor audition age to 14

Los Angeles  -  Simon Cowell has lowered the X Factor audition age to 14.

The music mogul has found young stars have been incredibly successful following their debut on the ITV singing contest, including the likes of One Direction and Cher Lloyd, and consequently he wants to broaden the boundary to help find the next talented musician.

The last time the age limit was 14 was in 2008 after which it was put up to 16, where it has stood until the forthcoming series.

A source told The Sun newspaper: ''Simon knows that young people make the best pop stars. He desperately wants another One Direction or Cher Lloyd, and they were very young when they appeared on the show.''

Simon will be on the judges panel alongside Cheryl Cole who was enticed to join the show because she's keen to find talent to match those who appeared on the last series she appeared on in 2010.

Simon previously said: ''You know why she came back ... we were having a conversation at my house and we were talking about the talent we had that final year in 2010 - One Direction, Rebecca Ferguson, Cher Lloyd, Matt Cardle - we just had great people, and we just suddenly thought we want to do it all over again. And that was the incentive to do it because there are still great people in this country left.''

This year's first open audition will takes place at Dublin's Convention Centre on April 5.