ABOUT 350 youngsters from schools and musical groups across the South East entertained an audience of parents and friends in the regional heat of the Music For Youth Festival held at Benenden School.

They performed classic, contemporary and pop pieces to an audience of parents and friends. Adjudicators and professional musicians Eileen and Christopher Field also gave the four to 18-year-olds tips on how to improve their pieces and praised the youngsters on their strong points.

The event coincided with 51 similar festivals held around the country during March and involving nearly 45,000 youngsters.

The strongest groups will be asked to play at the national Music For Youth Festival, to be held in the Southbank Centre, London, from July 1.

Performers at Bendenden included a band from Temple School, Strood, the Motet Choir from Tonbridge Grammar School for Girls, a samba band from Fulston Manor School, Sittingbourne and the Manwood Chamber Choir from Sir Roger Manwood's School, Sandwich.

Rock and pop bands came in the form of Massacre, Natural and X'POZ'D from Herne Bay High School.

Director of music at Benenden School, Stuart Beer said: "The mixture of beautifully prepared music was truly astounding. We were not expecting quite so many people to turn up to watch and all of a sudden we had a huge number we had to cram into the hall. It was lovely."

The groups chosen to play in London will be announced at the end of this month.