The people who stopped 'X Factor' singer Joe McElderry reaching number one have been offered jobs by his manager, Simon Cowell.

Couple Jon and Tracy Morter set up a campaign on website Facebook to make heavy metal band Rage Against The Machine's 1992 track 'Killing in the Name Of ' the UK's Christmas number one song - in a purposeful attempt to beat Joe to the top spot. Their effort so impressed Simon their effort he now wants them to work for him.

The music mogul said: "I offered them jobs at my record company. It could be in marketing or perhaps even running the company.

"I wanted them to come and work for us. I was deadly serious but they haven't taken me up on the offer."

Jon said: "We just wanted to have a different Number 1 to 'The X Factor' because it's been top for the last four years at Christmas and it has got a bit boring.

"We didn't know Joe had won when we started so it's not against him."

Joe's version of Miley Cyrus' song 'The Climb' sold 450,838 copies as downloads and physical singles against Rage's 502,672.

Joe, 18, added: "It's been exciting to be part of a much hyped battle and they definitely deserve congratulations."

Zack de la Rocha, the lead singer of Rage, confirmed that a "large portion" of the money made from the sale of the single would go to homeless charity Shelter, and the band plan to play a free show as a thank you to fans.