IT WAS a night to remember for The White Lakes, who played the biggest gig of their lives alongside Razorlight at the O2 Arena.

The Oxfordshire band made it all the way to the final of the 'Live at your local' competition run by pub chain Greene King, after the foursome were voted for by thousands of people in the county for a spot to play live at the Indigo club inside the London venue.

On Friday, the 18-year-olds faced off against six other finalists, with the chance to win £5,000 and a recording studio experience.

Lead vocalist Matt Ellacott said: "The venue was absolutely insane and the atmosphere was on another level. When I looked out at the packed crowd it was like a tingling sensation going through my whole body."

He added: "We are so thankful for all the support we've received to get us this far. Sadly we didn't win and lost to a solo singer named Nuala but for the 10 minutes we performed, in my opinion, we owned that stage."

The group are made up of Matt from Wantage, who also plays rhythm guitar, lead guitarist Charlie Burham from Abingdon, bassist Alex Carvell Turner from Kidlington and drummer Kyle Oliveira from Ramsden.

The young rockers met on the music course they are studying at City of Oxford College in Oxpens Road, Oxford.

The band play mainly indie rock and only perform their own material.

They take inspiration from bands including Circa Waves, Two Door Cinema Club, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Softengine and Air Traffic.

Matt said this is just the start for The White Lakes, adding: "We were the youngest there and have only been together five months compared to some bands we met who'd been performing for five or six years.

"All the way through we've wanted to prove just because we're young doesn't mean we can't hold our own. I would say keep a look out for our name."