YOUNG musicians are preparing to battle it out for the right to play at a rock festival planned as part of the summer celebrations in Bedale.

On Friday and Saturday, ten bands from Bedale High School and colleges in the area will feature in a knockout competition to determine who wins through to the final of the battle of the bands.

Bedale and villages Community Plan Forum, which is working on a series of projects to raise the profile of the market town, will host the evenings to reduce the number of bands through the semi-finals process. They will also raise money to help finance the rock festival, which is part of the town's summer celebration event.

It will also include fairground rides, bouncy castles and slides, stalls, refreshments and a barbecue.

The battle of the bands competition is being held in the Chantry Hall, next to St Gregory's Church from 7.30pm on both days. Guest bands will play while the judges make their decision. Entry costs £3.50 and all proceeds will go to the rock festival.

John Noone, chairman of the events working party at the community plan forum, said: "The rock festival has stirred the young bands' imaginations and because of demand we are having to organise these evenings so we can whittle ten local bands down to four through a judging process. The fifth will win through on a wild card, saved by the audience."

The winning band will get time in a recording studio sponsored by Mr Noone.