A STRATFORD venue has launched a search for local singing talent to put forward for a national competition.

Chicago Rock Caf, in Greenhill Street, is taking part in Luminar Leisure's Rock Idol competition which is being launched across the country in a bid to discover a potential star they hope to catapult to fame.

The venue will host four heats in June and July before staging a local final for the top singers in each round.

The winner will represent Stratford at the national event where they will compete for £5,000 worth of prizes and the chance to cut a professional CD.

Luminar Leisure, the company behind Chicago Rock Cafe, will then distribute the recording to the agencies and talent scouts it uses to book acts for its 350 venues.

Chicago Rock Cafe manager John Barrett said: "This is a genuine chance for a singer to come forward and make a name for themselves. We know there is a lot of untapped talent out there and we want to give people somewhere to come and showcase it.

"Rock Idol is aimed at anyone who is over 18 and has a talent for singing and we are expecting a flurry of entries. They can sing pop or rock dating back to the 50s up to the present day. Hopefully we can find someone to represent Stratford who will have a chance of winning the national crown."

Chicago Rock is now accepting entries, either at Chicago Rock or on the website at www.rockidol.info.