POP superstars Craig David and Artful Dodger are ready to invest in their home city to help local youngsters follow in their footsteps, the Daily Echo can reveal. (24/2/01)

The musical heroes - on track to pick up a clutch of gongs at the Brit Awards tonight - want to set up a community recording studio in the city to help young people realise their ambitions of mega-stardom.

Mark Hill, one half of the famous garage music duo Artful Dodger, is the driving force behind the community studio idea, which would cost around £25,000.

He said Artful Dodger set up their first recording studio in the city for about £5,000 - and it was there they laid down the tracks for Craig's 3.5m-selling album.

"There is such a lot of talent in the city and we would like everyone to have the chance to make music.

"Craig is very much behind this and thinks that, for a relatively small investment, we could get this off the ground. It could springboard someone's career like it did for Craig," he said.

They are willing to put in money themselves, but are also seeking cash support from other organisations and people.

"I wish there had been a community studio around when we were starting out. It's really taken off for all of us and now we would like to put something back," he said.

Mark is keen to work with Fairbridge Solent - an organisation helping youngsters who find themselves on the wrong side of the tracks - to create the studio.

Kevin Allan, manager of Fairbridge Solent, said he was looking forward to working with the stars.

"Music could be just the outlet some of the young people that we work with need. Having struggled in so many areas of their life, it would be great to give them an opportunity to succeed," he said.