X Factor's Marcus Collins to release debut album

Marcus Collins was runner-up in the 2011 series of The X Factor

X Factor finalist Marcus Collins is to release his debut solo album this spring.

Runner-up in the 2011 series behind Little Mix, the album from the 23-year-old Liverpudlian will come out on 12 March.

The record will be released by RCA, not directly by Simon Cowell's Syco label.

Tweeting about the announcement, he wrote: "Been working non-stop. I had to make sure it was right. I hope you guys love it - I do."

His mentor on the show, Take That's Gary Barlow, also tweeted about the release earlier this week.

He wrote: "I heard some of @MarcuscollinsUK's album today. Get ready. #brilliant."

Collins is preparing to take part in the X Factor UK Live arena tour which begins on 25 February in Manchester.

The album will get a much earlier release than those from the 2010 X Factor series - Matt Cardle, Rebecca Ferguson and One Direction all released their first music after the summer in 2011.