ACHTUNG Baby! Leigh's very own U2 guitarist won the battle of the tribute pop stars in front of millions of viewers.

Ivan Meredith, 27, of Duke Street played mega-star The Edge in U2 tribute band Achtung Baby on prime time national television last Friday in Battle of the Fantasy Bands on BBC 1.

Studio audiences voted Achtung Baby number one in the Best Sound-alike category. The programme set out to find the country's leading tribute band and there were three categories groups had to contend for -- best sound-alike, best look-alike and best overall tribute band.

The Fab Beatles won Best Lookalike and T- Rexstasy scooped the award for best overall tribute band.

Ivan said: "We were pleased with the result. After all it has always been what we have aimed for -- to sound like U2. If you don't look like them there is not much you can do.

"We did think the categories were a bit curious though. We wondered how you could be named the best sound alike but then not be the overall tribute band.'

Ivan and fellow band members singer Andy Bagnall from Barnsley, drummer Pete Akid from Hyde and bass player Steve Kean from Stalybridge watched their performance for the first time when it was broadcast as they had not been able to see a copy beforehand.

Ivan said: "We hadn't even been able to see the other bands perform because we were all over the place backstage.

"It was a bit bizarre to see yourself on television. But I suppose I could get used to it!"