AN ONLINE music channel set up for local ‘grime’ artists is making waves on YouTube.

David Poyner, of Peterborough Close, Worcester, has gathered over 160,000 views on his HashTag Genre (HTG) channel.

The platform covers a variety of music but mainly caters for grime, a fast-paced version of rap.

Mr Poyner says the city's grime scene is growing and claims his channel is helping to keep youngsters out of trouble.

His videos have racked up thousands of views in recent weeks and he now wants to turn HTG into the biggest channel for youth music in Worcestershire.

The 24-year-old said: "Grime offers an escape from crime.

"I knew a few MCs that wanted their work to be heard so I set up a channel. There was no one doing it in Worcester.

"One of my MCs messaged me a while ago and said that he's grateful I'm helping his son out as he's doing music now and not crime. Music does give them a purpose."

Mr Poyner taught himself to use a camera through his old YouTube channel GIM Productions.

He now hopes to make a career out of HTG and has invested up to £2,000 in his equipment, including a Nikon D3300 camera, a microphone and a drone.

He also plans to open a studio in the city in the near future.

Mr Poyner said members of three Worcester gangs used to feature in his videos, although this has now stopped because the organisations have disbanded.

HashTag Genre's biggest success so far has been a music video in honour of Worcester teenager Sean Stevens, who drowned in a city canal in 2016.

One of Sean's friends Callum Telford, who performed in the tribute video, said HTG was helping young people to share their feelings and succeed.

HashTag Genre was set up in April 2015 and recently started charging artists for videos, with prices ranging from £10 to £20.

To book a video either email davidpoyner93@gmail.com or visit https://bit.ly/2EQZb4R

To view HashTag Genre go on https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcIHSyZ8_zICAG1TI3rwDLw