Pop Idol wannabe Gareth Gates is relying on the support of his family - and that's just to sort out his growing bag of fan mail.

While Gareth is locked away in a top London hotel preparing for the latest round of the hit ITV show, back in Bradford dad Paul and sister Nicola are acting as his personal assistants.

Between them, the pair ensure that the East Bowling teenager gets to read all his letters - and his fans receive a prompt reply.

Postman Paul brings home bags of fan mail every night from his job at the Bradford sorting office where his colleagues pick out the letters marked simply 'Gareth Gates, Bradford'.

And back home, Nicola is busy addressing envelopes so that Gareth, who is through to the final four of the search for the latest pop sensation, can send back his autograph or photo.

Nicola, 16, who reached the fourth round of Pop Idol herself, said she was delighted to be helping-out her brother - but stressed Gareth personally opens and reads all his fan mail.

"I never open his mail, I just help him by putting the addresses on the envelopes and sending the stuff off," she said.

"He gets about 35 letters on a pretty good day, and never less than around 15 to 20. They ask him for autographs, signed pictures, or for him to send text messages to their mobile phones. Basically they are just saying how much they like him and that they wish him well."

Nicola, who attends Dixons City Technology College, said she was "really happy" about Gareth's success - but is thinking about sending him a bill for all her hard work if the fan mail continues.

"I think I might start charging him - and I've already asked if I can have this as a permanent job if he becomes really famous. He's said he'll think about it."

Nicola said the pair get on extremely well - even if she quite fancied being in the final four herself.

"Obviously I think everyone would love to be in that position and be a Pop Idol, but I am just delighted for him because he's been brilliant. I think that we get on so well because we are so close in ages - with just ten months between us. People at school are always saying they are amazed at how well we get on, and saying they wish they were the same with their brothers!

"Everything has gone quite mad at school because that's where Gareth went as well. Everybody is really supportive of him because he did have a lot of friends at school and people are always asking how he is doing."

And she said she's keeping her finger's crossed for Saturday night's performance.

"I'll probably be watching at home this week, because the show is sold out," she said. "I think all four of the remaining contestants are fantastic so it's going to be tough - they have all got a great chance of winning."