THIS year’s X Factor winner Matt Cardle will battle it out with fellow Essex boy Olly Murs in the category for best British single at the Brit Awards 2011.

Matt’s Christmas number one hit When We Collide is up against Olly’s latest single Please Don’t Let Me Go for the prestigious gong.

Both the singers shot to fame after appearing on Simon Cowell’s talent contest The X Factor, but in different years.

Olly, from Witham, was runner up after losing to Joe McElderry in 2009 and Matt went one further by winning the series in 2010.

Olly told The Sun that he was “gobsmacked” by the nomination.

He said: “It’s a great achievement for me just over a year after The X Factor - I didn’t expect it.

“Last year, I was on the X Factor tour... we watched JLS win ‘Best Single’ and it was incredible to see. To have my name on the nominations list is amazing.

“I’m proud because I wrote the song. I’m getting taken more seriously because I wrote 10 of the 12 tracks on my debut album.”

The nominations for Best British Single are:

• Alexandra Burke ft Pitbull - All Night Long

• Cheryl Cole - Parachute

• Florence & The Machine - You’ve Got The Love

• Matt Cardle - When We Collide

• Olly Murs - Please Don’t Let Me Go

• Plan B - She Said

• Scouting For Girls - This Ain’t A Love Song

• Taio Cruz - Dynamite

• Tinie Tempah - Pass Out

• The Wanted - All Time Low