If the latest raft of young musical talent on offer at the Schools Rock Prom is anything to go by, the local music scene is in for a real treat in years to come.

Schools and colleges such as Stanway, Philip Morant, Colchester Sixth Form, the Colchester Institute, and Thurstable in Tiptree, took part in the event, which ran at the Colchester Arts Centre last week.

Organised by former head of music at the Sixth Form College, Nigel Hildreth, who is also on the board at the Church Street venue, the night opened with Thurstable’s perky soul group who got the gig off to a great start with a number of classic toe-tappers including Superstition by Stevie Wonder.

Philip Morant took three acts along including the bewitching looped sounds of Gen Irving and a sweet acoustic number by Kiri Green plus the mammoth rock rhythms of retro rockers Sandcastle Jesus.

Other highlights included Stanway’s Feedback who made another triumphant punk rock appearance, proving they are a definite name to watch out for, while South Hours from the Colchester Institute served up a set of soulful pop songs that showed maturity way beyond their years.

Making-up the rest of the line-up, Weatherwax from the Sixth Form College jangled their way through a set of upbeat numbers but perhaps the act that shone brightest was Harry Frederick-Mires from the Colchester Institute, whose breathtaking melodic vocals were quite simply breathtaking.

NEIL D’ARCY-JONES