ARTISTS are being urged to enter a television contest.

The Hanging Jury, which closes on January 10, was launched by style guru Wayne Hemingway.

Described as a cross between Pop Idol and the Turner Prize, it asks artists to submit work to be judged by a panel including Mr Hemingway and director of Biscuit Factory art venue Andy Balman.

The contest is being aired on ITV's North-East Tonight programme, with the prize sponsored by furniture chain Barker and Stonehouse. Any form of art will be accepted, and the contest is open to professionals, amateurs and students.

Entrants will be whittled down to a shortlist of 100, then 20 finalists will be asked to produce a work of art in less than a month. The winner will be revealed in March.

They will be introduced to an art agent and have an exhibition at the Biscuit Factory gallery on Tyneside.

People can enter by downloading a form from the website www.thehangingjury.com or by following the instructions on North East Tonight.