TALENTED youngsters from two bands hoping to hit the big time have already made their mark, with one representing the UK and the other playing at the O2 arena after making the finals of prestigious competitions.

Both groups have their roots at Northolt High School, in Eastcote Lane.

All four members of Envy Assured met at the school which they have now left when they were 12 and 13 years old.

Now aged 18 and 19, their hard work has paid off and they will be showing of their skills at the Taubertal Festival, in Germany, seeing off about 500 other UK bands to get there.

Guitarist and backing vocalist, Dion Rushe, lead singer and bass player Phil Midz, of Perivale, guitarist Chris Martin, of Greenford and drummer Kodi Bramble, of Acton, will play and be judged on the first day of the three-day event in August.

They have already shone in a number of heats and if they win the competition, called the Emergenza World Festival, they will perform before headliners Prodigy and be offered the choice of either two weeks in a recording studio in Sweden or a European tour.

Dion, of Castle Road, Northolt, whose band is up against 14 from across the world, said: "It hasn't really dawned on me yet, it's quite a big thing which has happened to us.

"I think we've found a gap in the market for our sound, which is not really heavy, but heavier than your average run-of-the-mill pop. Most of the bands we were competing against were older than us so it was quite special to be beating people probably a lot more experienced than us, we've only been taking it seriously for about year and a half."

Another band to watch out for are Just Me Again whose promoter also attends Northolt High School.

James Ellet, 15, of the Fairway, Northolt, organised a battle of the bands at the school after he was approached by Blast Beat, a company which helps youngsters set up companies with a focus on the music industry.

Since winning the popular vote, the band: Elyar Afshari, 14, of Greenford, Martyn Jackson, 16, Jonny Poole, 16, and Julian Baxter, 18, all from Ruislip, won a semi final in Camden to secure their place at Blast Beat's national final at the O2 Arena on Tuesday.

Although they did not win, it has given them a taste of what may be to come.

James said: "When I was standing at the side of the stage I was overwhelmed. I was so proud, it was just amazing.

"It has made us take things so much more seriously."