LOCAL bands are being invited to fight for the opportunity of a £20,000 record deal in the UK's biggest ever online competition for new music.

It is open to any style of band, provided they play original material.

And the winner, to be named in September, will receive a 20-day recording session in a top studio plus professional design of an album cover and manufacture of at least 10,000 CDs.

Bands who are interested in grabbing the prize simply have to submit one track online by visiting www.bravenewbands.com.

Joe Taylor, director of the project, says: "This is a great opportunity for serious bands to really make the break.

"The winner will be judged entirely by their music rather THAN their image or their contacts so bands will be free to be as creative or experimental as they like.

"We're hoping to uncover some genuinely fresh talent and find out what the public really wants to listen to."

Bands who want to take part can find all the details on the website at www.bravenewbands.com