THE Shining really did shine in last night's Big Chance competition, run by The Northern Echo's music website, Revolution.

The Darlington band, consisting of brothers Stuart and Philip Davidson, Stuart Foster, Jon Bethell, Jon Metcalfe and Ronnie Hewison, won the competition's rock category.

The pop category winner was Durham band Northern Haze, consisting of Iain Anderson, Adam Cole, James Haselhurst and Craig Oxberry.

The two winners were each awarded a three-day session at Sanity Multi-media recording studio, in Stockton, and a make-over by Toni and Guy's, in Darlington, followed by a photo-shoot.

The winners also have their CD displayed on the shelves of the V Shop, in Darlington, and are awarded with a website designed and hosted by thisisrevolution.co.uk.

In the pop contest, Northern Haze were first on stage playing their original number, Malibu and Lemonade, followed by 16-year-old Sarah Jane Watson singing Angel Eyes, a song she wrote while on holiday.

Ringo Levio were also short-listed for the pop category but pulled out of the competition after being approached by a number of London record companies.

Last night's music showcase was staged at Darlington College of Technology and was the culmination of nearly two months' work where more than 50 unsigned bands entered self-penned material to the panel of Revolution judges. They were then whittled down to three finalists in each of the rock and pop categories.

Darlington nu-metal band Fude opened the evening's entertainment with a warm-up set before the rock final began.

First on stage before a near 300-strong crowd was Jibe, a six piece from Eaglescliffe, near Stockton.

The band entered their song, For a Girl, in the competition, but also played two other songs including a jumping rendition of Jeff Beck's Hi-Ho Silver Lining.

Next were Pincer, the five-piece from South Shields. They entered their self-penned number Cocaine Girl, but also turned their talents to personalising the Beatles' song, Come Together.

The Shining was the last to appear, playing their winning song, Get It Together.

Fans voted for their favourite act last night during the concert as well as on an Internet poll which closed at noon yesterday.

Sheila Caygill, New Media editor at The Northern Echo, said: "The event has been a great success, and hopefully it will set the way for future events."

The full results from the pop genre and the online voting can be found on the Revolution website at www.thisisrevolution.co.uk