FORGET Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks, Preston's own country music stars have gone down a storm in Nashville!

Bulleon, four musicians, went to the home of country music in America and came back with a recording contract.

Now the quartet are hoping to woo record bosses with their first CD, and have been asked back to the USA in November.

Local couple Pam and Steve Hampton, from Lostock Hall, make up one half of Bulleon, along with Lesley Bullen and Pete Smith. Lead singer Pam who also plays keyboard and bass, went to St Gregory's school in Deepdale, and Corpus Christi High, Fulwood.

She said: "I started playing at five years old, so this is a dream come true. I've played at local clubs since I was 16."

The band believe their combination of country, rock and blues styles will help them break the US market, traditionally the most difficult audience to win over.

Pam said: "Our manager has worked with artists like Garth Brooks. We're all excited, but apprehensive as well." Pam, a music teacher, and Steve, a self-employed drummer, are joined in Bulleon by Manchester-based singer Lesley Bullen and Bolton's Pete Smith, guitarist, both local government workers.

But despite fame looming across the Atlantic, they remain relatively unknown in this country.

Pam said: "We've really been disappointed at the response from this country. If it doesn't fall into the vogue of the moment people don't take a chance over here. We'd like a bit of a support over here."