THE judging panel has been announced for The Northern Echo's competition to find the region's top rock or pop act.

The Big Chance is being held in partnership with TFM Radio to find the best original unsigned act in the region.

The winner will receive recording time in Sanity Multimedia studio, in Stockton, as well as 100 CDs. CD artwork will be designed by Middlesbrough design firm House of Type.

The judging panel will include Colin Paterson, TFM's programme director, Jonathan Burrows and Adam Sayers, both of Sanity Multimedia, and Michael Atkinson, the editor of the Revolution music website.

The panel will review entries and select the final ten, which will be put on the Revolution website. Voting will then take place online, alongside the judging panel. The final three acts will perform at the Big Chance final at the Georgian Theatre, Stockton, on June 19.

At the gig, the judging panel will decide on the winner of the fantastic package of prizes.

Last year's Big Chance had two categories, rock and pop. This year's competition has been streamlined and has one category open to all genres of modern music.

The Big Chance is being sponsored by Darlington College of Technology, The Fourth Chamber, Copperfield Clothing, Northumbrian Water, and Air, Blackett, Hart and Pratt.

The deadline for entries is Friday, May 16. Log on to www.thisisrevolution.co.uk for an entry form and competition updates and highlights.