GIRL power helped a band win a school’s annual rock music competition.

Off Piste, a three-piece-band won the title in Bolton School’s senior schools’ battle of the bands contest.

The mixed band was led by Christie O’Connell, who was on vocals — making it the first time a female has won the competition, which is organised by the school’s boys’ division.

Also in the band were fellow 15-year-old pupils George Rudd and Tom McNicholas.

A spokesman for the band said: “We were surprised and delighted to win.

“We have only been going a year but have played a number of gigs in Manchester, including The Academy, The Roadhouse and the Dry Bar.

“We are currently recording some tracks which we put out through our Facebook and Twitter accounts.

“We aim to take it as far as possible and to go on to do bigger venues.”

Judging the contest was Tim Thomas from Blueprint recording studio in Manchester.

He said he chose Off Piste “for their originality, stage presence and the fact that they felt like a unit and performed as such” as well as being entertaining.

The runners-up were Exit Stage Right.

Absolution, last year’s winners, and The Gingembres also took part. All the bands were invited to visit Blueprint Studios.

Money raised on the day is to be split between donations to Fabrice Muamba’s Hearts and Goals charity, which raises money to pay for life-saving defibrillators in public places, and the Action for Children charity, which has a Bolton branch and supports disadvantaged children.

Recent judges of the competition have included former pupils who have gone on to success in the music industry, including Tony Wadsworth, the former chairman and chief executive of EMI, and broadcaster Mark Radcliffe, as well as DJ Andy Peebles.