A TALENTED student from Lytham is taking the UK's clubscene by storm with his dazzling DJ skills on the decks.

Tim Nicholls of Southholme, Lytham, is through to the semi-finals for the Red decksandefx National Student DJ Competition 2001/02 and is feeling confident that he will win.

Since September 2001 Red have joined forces with DJ magazine, NUS Ents, Ministry of Sound and the music industry to launch this NUS-recognised national student DJ competition.

The 20-year-old, who is studying law at Hull University, was among the 128 hopefuls who were chosen to compete against each other across 16 venues in the coolest clubs in the UK.

The former pupil of Arnold School, Blackpool, won the Hull University heat and is looking forward to the semi-finals in Salford next week.

He illustrated originality, innovation, technical skill and an ability to please the crowd in his live DJ set and now carries the accolade of Regional Student DJ Champion.

Tim is ecstatic about the whole affair. He told The Citizen: "I have been a DJ for about the last six years now and I have a resident set at Hull University. I am really pleased about getting this far. Ultimately I would like to DJ in a proper club in Blackpool or Lytham as there isn't one as yet."

Since winning the accolade of Regional Student DJ Champion Tim has played a warm-up set on the Ministry of Sound University Tour and now has the opportunity to prove his credibility as an up-and-coming DJ on a national level as he competes for the prestigious title of Red decksandefx National Student DJ Champion 2002.

From the semi finals eight finalists will go through to the big final on February 27 at the Ministry of Sound.

The final will be judged by famous DJs and industry bigwigs with one lucky winner going on to be featured on Ministry of Sounds radio station, have a professionally produced showreel and mixing tips by an A-list DJ within their genre.