A band has beaten musical hopefuls from around the world to win a prestigious songwriting contest.

Outsider were the overall winners of the pop category in the annual intenrational John Lennon Songwriting Contest with their song Understanding.

The win gives the boys a $5,000 publishing contract with EMI and a run of 1,000 custom CDs.

The band is made up of Graham Slater, 31, drummer; of Portland Street, Darwen, Danny Jones, 31, lead singer and guitar of Garden Village in Darwen; bassist Blake Slater, 22, of Redearth Road in Darwen and Lee Brotherston, 27, keyboards and rhythm guitar of Preston New Road, Blackburn.

Graham, 31, a graphic designer said the band - the only UK band in the contest - were desperate to win.

He said: "I just found out we had won by looking at the website. I clicked on it and there we were. I thought 'Is this for real?' so I contacted the official spokesperson and he confirmed it."

The publishing deal means the band's music will be promoted to be used in films, adverts and television programmes and means they have a strong chance of landing a record contract.

Formed in 2001, Outsider describe their music as indie/pop/rock and they have been likened to Coldplay and Keane The band first won $5,000 - about £2,500 - in vouchers for music equipment when they were voted as one of the two finalists for the pop category. Now Outsider are in the final 12 to be named Song of the Year, competing against artists in categories including folk, country and electronic.

The winner will be chosen by some of the music industry's biggest names including D12 with Eminem, Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead, Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas and Robin Gibb of The BeeGees.

More good news came this week when Outsider were nominated for an award in the pop category of The 17th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards, which promotes independent music.

The band are considering flying to L.A. for the awards ceremony in November.

A gig at the Cavern club in Liverpool beckons in May for the International Pop Overthrow festival followed by two gigs at Darwen Live just a few days later on May 27 and 28.

The band will be playing a free gig at Woodlands Hotel in Preston New Road, Blackburn, from 8pm on Saturday..