YOUNG musicians rocked when they took to the stage to compete in a battle of the bands.

Fans packed the Bolton School Arts Centre to cheer on the three finalists — Fight the Silence, Young Ruin and defending champions Parallel Oreos.

The annual competition has become one of the school's most popular highlights.

Fight the Silence opened the gig with an original song Hope of the Best followed by a cover of Owl City's Fireflies and before ending their set with an original Save the Day.

Young Ruin which were formed just seven months ago opened with Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus followed by an original called December Air and finishing with Bruno Mars’s hit Just The Way You Are.

Reigning Battle of the Bands winners The Parallel Oreos who played Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream and Green Day’s American Idiot closing with their original song Falling, which they released on iTunes at the beginning of the year.

Judging fell to Old Boys Chris Jones and Ben Thornley along with their colleague Malcolm Smith, who work for video production company Sitcom Soldiers. The company makes music videos for a wide variety of artists.

Young Ruin — made up of Giorgio Arnetoli, Sam Critchlow and George Ewell in year 13 and Sara Crompton from year 11 — won this year's title.

Sam said: “I’ve been at this school for seven years, and I’d just like to thank the music and drama departments for all the opportunities they’ve given me that have helped make me the person I am today.”

A spokesman for Bolton School said: "The audience lapped up the music from all three bands, singing along, dancing, and giving loud cheers and applause at the end of each song and set.

"All three bands’ performances were of an extremely high calibre this year, making the judging a particularly difficult task."