YOUNG musicians rocked the night away in a battle of the bands competition.

Eight bands from across North Yorkshire entertained an enthusiastic crowd at the Hambleton Forum, in Northallerton.

Musicians came from as far away as Harrogate, Thirsk and Bedale, with the eventual winners, Knaresborough rock band The Decades, claiming the honours.

"It feels fantastic to win," said lead singer Ed Glendenning. "We are really looking forward to getting in the recording studio and performing on Radio Minster Northallerton."

Other bands competing on the night included DIA, Public Upgrade, Eskimo Sandwich, Samsura, Vikki Razor, Rise from the Ashes and Jagged Union. All band members in the competition were aged from 13 to 19.

The contest was sponsored by Broadacres housing association and organised by Hambleton District Council and North Yorkshire County Council's youth arm Connecting Youth Culture (CYC), which runs its own record label 6K Vision.

Arts development officer Kate Staines said: "The aim is to work with young people to find out their aspirations and try to meet them."

CYC's Matt Burrows said: "It never fails to amaze me the amount of home-grown talent we have in North Yorkshire which is exposed and nurtured at events like these."