A YOUNG band from East Cornwall and West Devon had a storming win at the Cornish Livewire Battle of the Bands contest in Saltash recently.

Following a set of eight hotly contested heats with 32 competing bands, the band Hotel Infusion, sealed the deal with their tight 17-minute set and energetic stage presence.?Theyare now ready for a recording session at the renowned Sawmills Studio.

Hotel Infusion, comprising Jedd Sprosen, 16, from St Ann's Chapel, Oscar Pink, 18, from Gunnislake, Alex Davidson, 15, from Rilla Mill and Bertie Ellis Dean, 18, from Tavistock, only started playing together as a four-piece early this year, but are fast gaining more gigs around the South West.

The Livewire Battle of the Bands was an intensive ten-week process. Hotel Infusion were up against three other local bands — Elithia, Credicide and the Badland Bandits.

Last up, Hotel Infusion's high energy set really worked-up the crowd and as they were announced as the winners the judges praised Hotel Infusion's stage presence, passion and singalong anthems. Adam Parsons, manager of Thin Lizzy, judging by satellite from LA, said 'they really owned the stage'.

The boys scooped a cash prize of £1,000 and a full set of high quality instruments and technical kit worth in excess of £4,000. They will use the money to pay for a recording session at Sawmills Studio so they can create a professional demo they hope will help them carve their way into the industry.

Owning a full quality kit now means they have everything they need to play gigs in any venue.

Front man Bertie Ellis Dean said: 'The Livewire final was truly amazing, and winning means so much to us all for a whole host of reasons.

'We want to say thank you to everyone who took part, and all the people who organised the competition. We've all learned so much from the competition and all of the other bands were super impressive. We feel totally lucky to have won.'

Guitarist Jedd Sprosen said: 'This win, and the kit and money for a recording session at Sawmills is going to help us beyond belief.

'We can't believe the quality of the instruments that we've won and we're so massively grateful to all of the team at Livewire, especially Andy and Julie Rance, and to all the sponsors who made it happen.'