YOUNG bands will be given the chance to battle it out for a place on stage in a festival this summer.

Leigh Community group Strike a Chord is inviting bands from schools and colleges across the borough to send a musical performance to them for a chance to play at the RocknStroll festival on Saturday, July 14 at Lilford Park in Leigh.

The deadline for sending videos is March 16, with a shortlist of bands drawn up to play at the Masonic Hall in Leigh on May 19.

A panel of judges will then decide on the night who will play at the festival.

Co-founder of Strike a Chord Bevan Thompson said: Bevan said: “Our first RocknStroll festival last year was a huge success thanks to all of the hard work our volunteers put in and the support from the local community.

“We are really looking forward to this year and seeing the plethora of talent we know the town has to offer.

“By holding a battle of the bands style competition, we are giving school kids and college students the opportunity to gain experience playing in front of other people, while also offering up a fantastic prize.”

Strike a Chord, who set up the festival in September 2016, is given some money from Wigan Council’s Community Investment Fund to support the event.

The community group is also committed to allowing disabled people and disadvantaged people get involved with music.

Mayor of Wigan borough Cllr Bill Clarke said: “There are so many talented young people borough-wide so it is great that Strike a Chord are giving them a platform to be heard and share their creativity.

“We really want to encourage our future generations to follow their dreams and it is community events such as RocknStroll which help to celebrate and support this.”

If you or your child is part of a school or college band, they can submit a video of their band playing to david@rocknstroll.org.uk.

They will need to include the band’s name, where they are based and which school or college the band members attend.