A DREAM will come true for two budding songwriters when their music is featured in a live show at Winchester Guildhall in the new year.

Lifelong friends Robin Martin, of Kings Worthy, and Richard Ball, of Southampton, who are both in their fifties, love music and have been writing songs for pleasure over the past two years.

In October last year, they reached the finals of the Winchester Millennium Song Competition and have now produced their third CD, entitled Live the Dream.

The CD was recorded at the Sound-on-Sound studio, in Romsey, and has just been released at a cost of £4 per copy.

It features 25 girls from the Claire Goodwins Theatre Arts School in Kings Worthy, together with Richard and Rob providing the backing, and Ben Beech, of Bishopstoke, on guitar over the main theme number.

On January 27 and 28, all nine songs will feature in the show to be staged by Claire's School.

"Both myself and Richard love music and to have our songs featured in the show is quite a big stepping stone for us," said Rob.

"All the numbers on the CD are showy, musical songs, so it is ideal for the performance by the arts school. We have produced 150 copies of the CD and it will be available for people to buy at the show."

He added: "We have already written six songs for our next CD, which we hope to release in the spring."