CHURCHES are normally filled with the sound of quiet prayer or hymns sung by the congregation.

But one former place of worship is now rocking to a very different beat.

Jimmi Clarke, 30, has set up a music studio in a room at the Lowestoft Community Church on the South Lowestoft Industrial Estate and hopes to help talented local performers take their first steps towards the pop charts.

Since October, the bass guitar session artist, who has played with Gloria Gaynor and Il Divo, has worked on three albums for local musicians and singers including Helen Watson and Josh Bunce.

From his one-room Little Studio A, he uses his technical expertise to add all kinds of backing music to albums in an effort to ensure songs hit the right note by attracting attention from music fans.

Mr Clarke, whose father Rob Clarke is a leader at the church, also provides backing tracks and recording facilities for one-off songs and audio books, and offers studio time to local entertainers.

Since leaving Great Yarmouth College, the former music technology student has spent the last decade touring the world as a session musician, playing with acts such as the successful Abba tribute band Bjorn Again and singer Simon Webbe from the hit group Blue.

He decided to set up his own studio as he wanted to help local musicians and establish a base close to his home in St Leonard's Road, Kirkley.

He named his studio after the famous Studio A in Detroit which produced some of the most famous Motown hits.

Mr Clarke said: 'There is a lot of local talent out there. I think there is something special about taking someone's spark and helping to shape it for them.'

For information on the Little Studio A visit www.littlestudiona.com