MUSIC-lovers still have time to vote for their favourite local acts in a bid to shoot them to stardom and a slot on this summer's festival circuit.

Local Heroes aims to discover Britain's best unsigned artists at grass roots level and give them the chance to play alongside the likes of Coldplay at six major festivals.

The Worcester News, part of the Newsquest Media Group, has teamed up with online festivals site Virtual Festivals.com, HMV, Yamaha Music and mobile content provider Roundpoint for the exciting initiative.

A total of 56 bands from the Midlands have already signed up since the competition was announced in this paper just over two weeks ago.

The latest arrivals include the youthful Worcestershire band The Hoax Band, all former pupils of The King's School, Worcester, whose influences include The Velvet Underground and The Doors.

Worcester five-piece funk/rock/indie act The Never Generics have also signed up alongside Evesham's Offbeat Heroes, a punk-ska quintet who formed last Christmas and played their first gig at Pershore College of Horticultural in February.

Kidderminster is also well-represented, with alternative progressive rock act Dead Letter Office and the Futerlites - who have been compared to the current big names Kooks and Arctic Monkeys - also joining the competition. Music fans only have until the end of June to cast votes for their favourite acts. They can vote for, or listen to, their favourite tune for free on www.thisisworcester.co .uk/ localheroes or by telephoning

If they like what they hear and download it or order it as a ringtone, every vote and purchase will bring points for the band they have chosen. The nationwide competition has been split into eight regions and the winners will find themselves battling it out at a live performance in London, in July.

Two bands will be crowned winners and head out on the festival circuit to play before thousands of people at events which will include Stratford's Global Gathering.