THERE are fireworks ahead for local band Chill 2 Thrill on November 5 – they have just won through to the quarter finals of a prestigious brewery-sponsored battle of the bands.

The four youngsters, who come from Chepstow, Monmouth and Ross, trounced the opposition with a half-hour gig of their own work in Newtown, mid-Wales, on Friday.

Simon Smith, 16, Jenny Sweeney, 17, Paul Randall, 16, and Nikki Ivison, 15, have played many Forest gigs to wide acclaim as well as being heard on local radio and hospital radio.

They finished with a six-point margin in Newtown against strong opposition from bands based in Kington and Builth Wells and the local Newtown favourites.

Simon (lead guitar and vocals), Jenny (bass guitar and vocals), Paul (rhythm guitar) and Nikki (drums) have been helped towards their success by musical mentor Clive Pritchard and part-time roadie and publicity agent Fred Smith. All of them hope to follow careers in music.

They are all practising hard for the November 5 quarter-finals of the event, sponsored by Carlsberg-Tetley, which will take place at the Bell Hotel in Newtown.

"The band hope that their success will carry them through to the semi and the grand final and wish that all their supporters could be there to cheer them on," said Fred Smith.