The new owners of a popular Andover pub are hoping a little competition will breathe new life into the venue.

The George, on the town's High Street, has recently been taken over and a Battle of the Bands event is going to be put on in May.

Manageress Sara Jane Grace says live music will still form a big part of its future: "I'd love it on a Sunday afternoon to become a music afternoon, for people to come in, relax, have a pint, bring your guitar down, saxophone, anything!

"Basically, we'd like it to be a speak-easy muso's bar, if you can say that sort of thing."