AN all-girl rock band from Stockton, are due to star on a youth news programme.

Welcome to Failure have been competing in battle of the bands across the North-East.

The group is writing new material and hopes to get into the studio to record an EP to promote their work to a larger audience.

Drawing inspiration from female-fronted rock groups such as Blondie and No Doubt, the girls have also been influenced by Blink 182 and The Rasmus.

Lead singer Jess Lathan said: "It has been a crazy week for us we have had a lot of attention from the BBC and we recorded a one-track demo to be used on the programme.

"We are working hard on new material and are hoping to get a full day in the studio very soon to record an EP of our own work."

The four-piece band, of 16-year-old Jess, her sister Emily, 13, on drums, guitarist 17-year-old Steph Hooton and bassist Looci Stephenson, 16, are due to appear on CBBC's Newsround at 3.50pm tomorrow.

Mark Lathan, Jess and Emily's father, has worked as a guitar technician for a number of leading rock acts including Thunder, and he believes the girls have a good chance of success.

He said: "They have attracted a lot of attention so far and this programme will certainly help. On the programme there are contributions from Universal Records and someone from rock magazine Kerrang talking about the all-girl rock scene."

"At the moment, we seem to be lagging a bit behind the US and Europe but there is nothing stopping us catching up."

Published: 08/01/2005