A LOCAL band has been given free recording time after winning a Battle of the Bands competition at Stratford Civic Hall.

Vest, made up of six 19 and 20-year-old Redditch and Warwickshire members, got together last year while studying popular music in Stratford and played their first gig at Feckenham Village Hall in December.

Band members are lead singer James Butler, his brother Peter, who is guitarist and lead singer, lead guitarist Jon 'Shifty' Martin, rhythm guitarist Ben Parkinson, drummer Jason Knight and bass player and backing vocalist Sean 'The Dude' O'Gorman.

Vest, who describe their music as melodious rock, were up against five other bands in the competition on July 15 after one band dropped out.