WOULD-BE pop stars are tuning up for the biggest talent show the area has ever seen.

College students and children from local high schools will be invited to compete before a line-up of professional musicians including singer Dave Hemmingway from The Beautiful South.

It is all part of a project led by Excellence in Crewe, the Govern-ment-backed initiative providing new opportunities in and out of the classroom for all the town's school-children.

Spokeswoman Rachel Kerslake said: 'MUSIcool is a melodious challenge from Excellence in Crewe that was launched at the Limelight club in Crewe at the weekend.

'At the launch was singer Dave Hemmingway, who started chart-topping band The Beautiful South with lead singer Paul Heaton. He will be one of a team of experienced judges who will select the winning performance at the final next April.'

The competition has two categories with children from the five Crewe secondary schools competing in the 11-16 section and students from South Cheshire College, Reaseheath College and Malbank sixth-form competing in the 17-19 section.

Heats will take place in schools early in 2005.

Rachel added: 'The competition is open to all styles of performers and all genres of music, with the young people invited to compete in groups of two or more.

'They will be asked to perform a cover of a song of their choice and also write and perform their own song.

'Professional musicians will be recruited to spend time in the schools to help the pupils challenge their tuneful creativity into winning songs.

'The winning performance from each school will be selected to go forward to the final.'

The grand final will take place in April at the Limelight. Winners will be offered the chance to record their tracks on CD in the recording studios at Crewe YMCA.

They will also perform at ARTS-cool, the Excellence in Crewe arts festival planned for June 2005.