A Hull-based band are hoping to become big names in the music industry after being signed by the man who discovered Oasis.

Record company boss Alan McGee signed the then little-known Manchester band and put them on the road to international stardom.

And now he is hoping to do the same for The Paddingtons.

The five-piece band, who describe themselves as a "typical beat group", have signed a contract with Mr McGee's label Poptones and are set to release their first single in October.

The band have been at the forefront of the music scene for two years and played throughout the UK with top groups including The Libertines.

Mr McGee discovered the band at The Rhythm Factory, a London music venue, and then listened to one of their demo tapes.

Mr McGee, whose other signinclude Primal Scream and Teenage Fanclub, said: "I love them - they are a great band."

Despite gaining a record deal, the Hull lads have their feet firmly on the ground and say all they really want to do is perform gigs for their fans.

On Tuesday they did just that - playing to a packed Jazz Cafe in Lowgate, Old Town with London-based labelmates Thee Unstrung and fellow Hull bands Turismo and The Morphines.

And on Thursday, July 29, singer Tom Atkin, 19, rhythm guitarist Josh Hubbard, 19, lead guitarist Marv, 21, bassist Lloyd Dobbs, 21, and drummer Grant Dobbs, 19, will appear at The Welly Club in Beverley Road.

The band named themselves after children's television favourite Paddington Bear.

Grant said: "We are a typical beat group - two guitars, a basist, a drummer and a singer.

"Our single is two minutes of raw power.

"We have just got hold of something and we are not going to let go."

Lead guitarist Marv, from north Hull, added: "Everything's makeshift and we don't have any expectations after the single.

"We just hope people will like the song and come and see the band.

"We got together through Lloyd because we all wanted to be in the band as we were all friends - it wasn't like we got together through an advert at the back of the NME."

Josh, of Cottingham Road, and Tom, of west Hull, said the band's main influences included The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Green Day, The Clash, David Bowie and The Strokes.

The band will meet with Mr McGee on Friday to discuss the artwork for their single, Twenty-One, which will go on sale across the UK on Monday, October 4.

source: inside Hull