A SCHOOLBOY is set to take music lessons from his guitar hero and has been told if he performs well enough he could feature on the band's next EP.

Cerebral palsy sufferer John Hindle has been a fan of Clayton-le-Moors band Ten Stone Dead since they formed 12 months ago and started rehearsing in his parents' local pub.

The 10-year-old would sit mesmerised on the stairs of The Wellington Hotel as the group -- who describe themselves as a cross between House of Love and Embrace -- practised their tracks.

Last July John's parents Janet and Trevor decided to buy a new electric wheelchair for John and the group stepped forward to suggest a fund-raising concert to help. And now that the chair has been paid for Mick Bamford, lead guitarist, is to help John realise another dream -- playing the guitar himself.

Janet said: "He has been a music fan all his life and was singing almost as soon as he could talk. He has a great little voice. When he was younger he went to a music class in Blackburn but they struggled to find an instrument for him because his left hand movement is limited.

"But for ages now he has asked for a guitar and if he does it properly it could even help to strengthen his arm."

John's parents bought him an electric guitar for Christmas but there was something wrong with it so it was sent back and he is now waiting for an exact half-size replica of a Fender Stratocaster to arrive. Janet said: "He was really disappointed at Christmas but is looking forward to getting the new one and he's getting his fingers limbered up playing on his Playstation."

Mick Bamford added: "John has a lot of determination and if he applies that to his guitar playing he will have a lot of success."

John is so excited about learning to play that he has even set up his own group -- yet to be named -- with pals Becky Baxter, 10, Jodie Hughes, 11, and his seven-year-old sister Samantha.

John will naturally play guitar, with Becky as lead singer, Samantha doing backing vocals and Jodie on drums. The group are to practise in John's conservatory.

Speaking about his love of music, John said: "I like rock music best and Ten Stone Dead are my favourite group. I like Stereophonics too but they're not as good."

And the group are just as impressed with John as he is with them. Pete Norman, lead singer, said: "He knows all the words to all our songs and hasn't got a bad voice so if I ever have a frog in my throat he'll be able to stand in for me.

"We'll have to see how he does but he's got the best teacher around.

"If he's good enough in the summer we'll let him do something on our new EP."

A date has now been set for a huge party to thank everyone who helped raise funds for John.

This will be held at The Wellington Hotel, Wellington Street, on February 10 from 2pm.

The family has issued an open invite to anyone who was involved in the fund-raising process but asked for those attending to call 01254 351972 so enough potato pie can be ordered.