Mark Oaten, MP, has pledged his support to a Winchester-based music project for young people.

The festival, "Distorted Sounds", formerly known as "Dogfest", gives young bands based in the city and the surrounding areas a chance to be heard.

It is run by Daryl Carter (19), from Firmstone Road, Winnall, and he has secured a new venue for the festival at Weeke Community Centre.

Mr Oaten said: "This is long overdue in Winchester. There has been a big problem finding a centre for young bands to come together ever since The North Pole venue in Parchment Street closed.

"I have had lots of teenagers come to me saying they would love something like this."

Mr Oaten said he was approaching some potential sponsors for the event."If there are any businesses who want to get involved, that would be great," he added.

"I am very excited about it and I think it's an excellent idea, I might even go along to one of them myself!"

Daryl hopes to raise £3,465 to pay for a PA system for the event.

He said: "Mr Oaten's support means we are actually going somewhere. It's a really good thing that someone in government has actually bothered to approach us about Distorted Sounds and it goes to show that it's a project that will go far."

Daryl and his team are looking for office space in Winchester from which they can organise and run the festival.

Distorted Sound's launch party will be held at Weeke Community centre on Saturday, July 26th.

For more information about how bands or volunteers can get involved with Distorted Sounds, call: 07092-304304 or visit www.dogfest.co.uk