TWO East Lancashire bands are hoping to make a step into the big time after winning their way through to the finals of a national music competition.

Salacious, from the Hyndburn area, and Bashphelt, from Barnoldswick, have made it through to the last 50 of more than 1,700 entrants in a Channel 4 hunt for the next big thing.

Salacious, an alternative pop and rock four-piece, is made up of singer Laura Ward, 21, guitarist Tao Liu, 22, bassist Kev Hession, 28, and drummer Alex Birtwell, 21.

And Bashphelt, also offering pop and rock tunes, comprises singer and guitarist Tom Hargreaves, lead guitarist Andrew Gilmour, bassist Richard Wilson and drummer Baz Rawlinson.

The two bands are now set to play a televised audition in front of a panel of judges, including Radio One's Jo Whiley, at the weekend before a winner is picked.

It will be Salacious's first time on television, but Bashphelt have already experienced some success.

The band was named the winner in Popworld Promotes, and was the first unsigned act to play on the Channel Four show.

The latest contest is being filmed and will be shown on Channel 4 from next month as part of a new series called Mobile Act Unsigned.

The show will be hosted by Popworld presenter Alex Zane.

The eventual winner will get a two-year recording contract.

Bashphelt singer Tom said: "It's great that we've got this far and we want to give a big thank you to all our friends and everyone who voted for us on the internet.

"We've had some luck before with Channel Four so I hope that's going to happen again."

The foursome will be following their audition with gigs locally as well as in the Hard Rock Cafe, London.

They are also set to appear at the Sunfest festival in Burnley.

Salacious's drummer Alex, of Rishton, said: "It is very exciting to be involved in the show and a record deal is what we are working towards.

"We're practising hard and really hope to make an impression in front of the judges."

The show takes a similar format to X-Factor but will feature bands playing their own music.

Both bands got through to the final 50 after sending a demo tape to producers.

Alex added: "There's not been anything like this before that is really tailored to original acts doing their own thing."

The band is described as "a mix between Siouxsie And The Banshees and Red Hot Chilli Peppers".

They've recently released their debut EP Experiment and are steadily making a name for themselves across the North West, gigging in venues throughout Manchester, Leeds, Wakefield, Blackburn and Accrington.

Their greatest successes to date have been supporting signed band The Holloways at Blackburn nightclub Liquid & Envy, playing the Night and Day Cafe in Manchester and gigging at the Snooty Fox in Wakefield.