ROCK and roll high school kids Fret 64 brought the house down to win the 2014 Grab title, the Ribble Valley’s schools talent show.

The music-mad lads from Bowland High – who only got together as a five-piece band last summer – wowed the sell-out crowd at Clitheroe’s Grand Theatre with their polished cover of The Foo Fighters’ rock classic Times Like These, to land the £800 first prize.

Lead singer of Fret 64 Tom Bamber, 15, said: “This is a dream come true for us, we can’t believe it. We are all massive fans of Dave Grohl and The Foo Fighters, so to win Grab with one of their songs was extra special. All the acts were incredible – but it hasn’t sunk in yet that we won.”

Bamber, John Taylor, Matt Popham, Jonny Douglas and Jamie Crane, all in their final year at Bowland, had only played a handful of gigs before the contest.

“We are aiming to stay together for the next few years, and maybe play professionally one day,” added Tom.

Grab judge Andy Bell, guitarist in London pop group Malokai, told Fret 64, “You guys were ridiculously good – I’ve just seen the next Beatles.”

Acoustic guitarist Beth Ferguson, 14, also from Bowland High, performed her own song Fly Away, to win runner-up. Ribblesdale High School Ami Jorgensen, 15, carried off the third-placed prize and singer Breanna Howard, from St Augustine’s High School, Billington, was fourth.

Steven Lancaster, The Grand’s director, said: “Every Grab act was a worthy winner – they all had a special talent.”

Steered by the Grand’s high school forum members, with support from venue and school staff, Grab 2014 will see charities The British Heart Foundation, Clitheroe Foodbank and The Solomon Project all benefit from money raised by the event. Grab was sponsored by Family Care Associates.