A COLLEGE course has proved it is top of the charts when its students came first and second in a recent competition.

The Reserved and Scenario are two bands who formed through its members being on the BTEC National Diploma course in Contemporary Music at Blackburn College.

The bands faced seven other acts in a Battle of the Bands competition and took first and second place. Simon Fort, of the Reserved, said they beat off bands that had been going for years.

The 16-year-old drummer from Darwen said: "We have only been going four months and there were bands that had been playing for 10 years and more. It has given us a massive boost in confidence."

The Reserved, who are all from Darwen, won the competition scooping £350 and a trophy in the process. Despite the competitive nature of the event, held at the Crown in Darwen, the two bands are all friends at college and insist there is no rivalry.

Bass guitarist Marc McKeown, 17, said: "It's unfortunate that there had to be a winner, everybody went along to enjoy themselves. It was a great day."

Members of both bands said the college course had pushed them in the right direction into forming a band.

Course tutor Dave Ellis said he was proud two lots of his students had done so well adding it was testament to the course the college offered.