MORE than 300 people packed into a Worcester school to see musical students fight it out for the chance to play live at a festival this summer.

The Battle of the bands saw 17 acts perform at Christopher Whitehead Language College.

Four winning acts bagged a slot at the Severn Sounds music festival with the chance to compete for a recording studio session.

The students' performances were judged by popular local tribute act Blobby Williams along with Kidderminster College's independent record label MAS records and pop band Done by Sunrise.

Adam Davies, head of music, said: "It's a mix of different year groups from year 7 to year 12.

"It was a mix of rock, pop, metal and classical and between 20 and 30 students took part.

"We did a show last year and it started this idea of getting the students to perform at the live events.

"We raised £310 from ticket sales which will go towards the sixth form chosen charities."

The winners were Molly Evans and Nicole Cooper, from year 11, Jess Atkinson and Ashleigh Webb, from year 12, Ellie Mckay, from year 12, George Ormerod, Matt Tyler, Dan McLaren and Joe Cummings, a team that were from year groups across the school, and Natalee Gorman, Josh Morris, Freddie Hulbert, Will Parry and Max Sheehy from year 10.

Each act has won a performance slot at the Severn Sounds Festival on the family festival day on Sunday, June 5 at The Pavilion in the Park, Worcester.

The winner on that day will receive the MAS records recording studio prize.

Severn Sounds festival is a charitable festival and will take place between Friday, June 3 and Sunday, June 5.

This year the festival will raise money for New Hope Worcester, a charity that helps families who have children with disabilities and complex needs.

The Battle of the Bands took place between 6.30pm and 9pm at the Bromwich Road school on Wednesday, April 27.