BROMSGROVE teenager Howard Kenny is ready to rock after the stolen guitar he never thought he would see again was left in a shop doorway.

The 17-year-old scoured the streets and spent sleepless nights after his £650 Gibson Epiphone Les Paul was stolen during a talent contest - and he still had to concentrate on his AS level exams at South Bromsgrove High School.

Howard, of Shaw Lane, Stoke Prior, did a paper round and saved up for 18 months to buy his distinctive glitter gold limited edition guitar to play in his band, Neverthought.

But he didn't think he would see it again when the guitar was taken from the side of the stage during a Battle of the Bands at Marrs Bar, in Worcester last week.

It was after midnight on the week of his exams but Howard chased around the streets looking for the thieves.

"I thought it would be sold the night it was taken," said Howard. "They would probably only have got £20 or something for it, but it's worth a lot more than that to me."

But it was music to Howard's ears when he received a call two days later.

Steve Strain, one of the judges at the contest, said the guitar had been left in the doorway of his Music City shop - the store Howard bought it from two years ago.

"I was really pleased. Everything was in the case, including my song lyrics," said Howard, who is studying music, drama and media at school and aims to concentrate on music technology at college in Worcester next year.

"We're very energetic on stage and the guitar stood out. Audiences remembered it so it was a big part of our stage act," he said.

The four-piece band has been together for five years, playing regularly at local venues and as far afield as a tour of Belgium.

Now Howard is hoping to make a professional career in the business - with the help of his prize guitar.