UNSIGNED bands are invited to battle it out for the honour of opening a music festival, to go ahead near Ledbury.

Bands both local and from afar are urged to take to the stage in the Open Lakefest Livewire competition, with the winner standing shoulder to shoulder with the professionals and kick off Lakefest 2016.

Lee Martin, Lakefest director, said: "We’re passionate about showcasing musical talent.

"We know that there are so many incredible individuals and bands out there that deserve recognition and we want to give them a platform.

"The winner of the ‘Open Lakefest Livewire’ will open Lakefest 2016.

"It’s free to enter and we invite all unsigned acts to apply – whatever the genre and whether you’re a one-man-band or a group."

The finalists will be chosen by the organisers, and eventual winner will be chosen by the public.

When the finalists have been narrowed down, the videos will be put on a dedicated YouTube channel where the public will cast their votes on who should win.

Likes on each video will be counted as votes. The act with the most votes will be named as the winners of the competition.

The music festival is making its fifth return this August, but this year it will be held at Eastnor Castle Deer Park.In previous years it was held at Croft Farm Waterpark, near Tewkesbury.

It boasts world-wide stars on this year's line-up.

Starsailor, Primal Scream and We Are Scientists are among the star-studded line up that has been announced.

Scottish rock band Primal Scream have gained a huge cult following after several hits including Loaded, Movin’ on Up and Come Together.

The band are due to release their 11th studio album, Chaosmo- sis, in March.

We Are Scientists exploded on to the music scene in 2005 with dance rock records including With Love and Squalor.

They have gone on to have main stage slots at Reading and Leeds, Glastonbury and T in the Park, as well as at festivals all over Europe.

Their fourth album, TV En Francais, is also due out in March.

Starsailor are another major booking for Lakefest, as the band have enjoyed a string of hits over the last 15 years. Among the band’s popular tracks are Four to the Floor, Keep Us Together and Fever.

A limited number of Early Bird tickets are still available. Day Tickets are also now on sale.

It gets underway on August 11, and runs until August 14.

For more information, or to book tickets, visit lakefest.co.uk/buy-tickets