Loaded Dice win 'unsigned' prize

The Loaded Dice are Adam Griffiths (pictured), Richard Watts, David Bradley, Chris Leeds and James Stone

Gwynedd band Loaded Dice have won a UK competition for unsigned acts.

The band, who all live and work in Dolgellau, beat off the competition watched by 125 fans, who travelled to watch them in Portsmouth on Saturday.

Lead singer James Stone said they were delighted that they had won but "there's more work to be done".

The band will next week meet the Future Music label with a view to signing a record deal as part of their prize, which is worth £20,000.

"We had the most fans of any of the bands who were there," said Stone.

"It was really good because we were surrounded by good musicians, and it was great that all the people - two coaches from Dolgellau, and one from Manchester - travelled seven hours in a bus to hear us," he added.

Part of the prize is an opportunity to sign to Future Music and to release a single.

"We meet with the record company next week and we want to make sure it's what we're looking for, because it would tie us to them for two years," Stone added.

Two other bands from Wales were in the final: The Buffalo Kings and My Favourite Runner Up.

Judges included DJ Annie Nightingale and former Sex Pistols and New York Dolls manager Malcolm McLaren.