A NORTH-EAST band tipped for the top by the national press are hoping to set the music world alight when their first chart-eligible single is released on Monday.

Electro-indie-punk four-piece We Start Fires, from Darlington, is asking the region to support efforts to get the single, Magazine, in the top 40.

The first chart-eligible single comes hot on the heels of two sell-out limited edition releases. The double A side Hot Metal and Hipshake was runner-up in NME's single of the week.

The music magazine declared: "This slab of bubblegum metal makes a case for We Start Fires being the acest band in the world."

Bass player Nikki Vaughn said: "It would be really good for a few kids from a small, North-East town to make it big.

"We're hoping the town is going to get behind us because we all live in Darlington and love it."

Becky Stefani, who fronts the band, said: "We'd really like to make a dent in the charts.

"It's not completely impossible - the song can be downloaded for 79p and if enough people from the town download it, we could get into the charts."

Last year, the band played at the world-renowned South by Southwest festival, in Austin, Texas, where they took part in a documentary for BBC Two's Culture Show.

But things did not go to plan and the band had to contend with delayed flights, missed connections and lost luggage before they even got to Texas - with a TV crew filming their every move.

"Eventually we got to Texas four hours before we had to play and had had no sleep. But the gig was good," said Becky.

The band also recently played at London's Brixton Academy with The Rakes.

The group, whose other members are Melissa Marx on keyboards and synths and drummer Ashley Wade, took their name from an episode of The Simpsons.

Their debut album is due out in October.

Magazine is released on Bank Holiday Monday on the Hot Noise label.

To mark the release, the band is holding a launch party on Tuesday, at Inside Out, in Beaumont Street, Darlington.

Admission is £3. The party is open to people aged 14 and over. Doors open 8.30pm.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/westartfires