LOCAL bands are set to get Okehampton rocking this week as they go head-to-head in the first heat of the annual battle of the bands competition.

This is the first year the Okehampton Battle of the Bands competition has been held with the new organising committee and it is set to be as popular as ever.

The new committee was formed in September last year after the original team, which had organised the event for 10 years, decided to step down. The new committee, which includes Teresa Edwards, Jay Hadland, Ben Boulton, Lee Croad, Dee Smith, Jane Drummond and a number of others, came together and have since been working hard to stage the event this year.

Secretary Teresa Edwards said: 'We've been organising this since September.

'The people before did it for ten years and when they decided to leave we couldn't let it fold so we came together to take it over.

'We have had to restart from scratch and apply for funding for it. Lots of local people from the community and businesses have donated money so that we could get the heats up and running.

'It has been hard work. We have a meeting every month then we all do work on it in our free time too. It takes a lot of dedication but we are all excited about it.

'The formula has slightly changed from previous years and we are hoping it works.'

This year's event, which will see bands from across the country travel down to take part, kicks off tonight (Thursday) with the first heat.

Competing against each other first are Knieval, Ten Zero One, The Morales, An Arcane Dispute and Catherine and the Owl.

In heat two will be DownFall, Lomi, Last Confession, Pseudomorph, City Scriptures and Skyborn and in heat three will be Battleborne, Nosdonkey Present, Shot the Messenger, Jordan Hookway, Sam I Am the Green Egg Band and Black Static.

The bands will play in front of a packed audience and a panel of five judges will determine who gets through.

One band from each of the three heats will go through to the final as well as one or two extras the judges feel should also go through.

The final will be held at the beginning of August with a British theme and The Who tribute band entertaining audiences.