Southampton born singer-songwriter Matt Cardle has split from his record label after disappointing sales, writes Lee Williams.

The 2010 X Factor winner revealed that he had parted ways with Columbia on a social networking site.

It is understood the company did not renew Cardle’s contract when it came to an end.

His debut album Letters entered the charts at number two last October after his first single, When We Collide stormed to number one in 2010 following his X Factor success.

But since then sales dropped with his third and fourth single releases reaching only numbers 185 and 84.

The 29-year-old singer was born in Southampton but his family moved away while he was still at an early age. He recently returned to the city to publicise the Sport Relief Mile, visiting the No Limits charity to find out how £105,000 of the money raised had gone to help young people in the area.

The ex-painter and decorator had earlier said: “I spent two years in Southampton then moved to Bristol and across to Essex. I don’t really remember it to be fair but I wish I could.”