A LOWESTOFT band have taken a huge step towards their goal of playing on some of the biggest stages in the country, after securing a place in the final of a national music competition.

A LOWESTOFT band have taken a huge step towards their goal of playing on some of the biggest stages in the country, after securing a place in the final of a national music competition.

Crumbs For Comfort progressed through to the grand final of Live and Unsigned on Saturday and now they can look forward to a big date at the IndigO2 in London.

The seven-piece indie folk-rock band had previously sailed through a regional final in Ipswich, but last weekend they went a step further by making it through their area final in Basildon, Essex.

They impressed the judges with their original song Lowestoft Bay, a song they have written about the downfall of the town's fishing industry, and their cover of Kylie Minogue's Confide In Me.

Now, Alex Brown, Ben Chenery, Jamie Scott, Robert Vincent, Richard Thompson, Liam Brown and Colin Shaw are excitedly planning a trip to London on Saturday, July 10 for the grand final.

Guitarist Ben Chenery said: 'I'm speechless. I just don't know what to say, it's fabulous. It's great to get to the 02.'

The band members, who are based across Norwich, Ely and Lowestoft, were particularly delighted with comments from judge Sophie Daniels, of Sony UK.

'She said Lowestoft Bay was the best original song she'd heard so far and that we were an energetic and compelling band, which we were really chuffed by,' said Mr Chenery.

In the final the band will get the chance to perform in front of judges including Noddy Holder, Greg James, Ras Kwame and Gail Porter, with the hope of securing a recording and management contract with Future Music and a share of the prize pool worth over �75,000.

Mr Chenery admitted that the band felt like they had already won and were already in talks with top industry names about their future plans, with the aim of one day playing at Glastonbury and Latitude festivals.

'We've already won as we've been seen by some of the top music brass. We hope to get signed but it will have to be the right deal for us,' he added.

Also taking part in the regional final were Carlton Colville-based punk band My Sweet Surrender, but they were unfortunately not selected among the finalists.