CHANDLER'S Ford may not be the first place you think of when looking for Hampshire's next big music star.

But a former Thornden School pupil has high hopes for music success as he currently works towards recording his first single.

Twenty-six-year-old Craig Johnston has come a long way since busking on the streets of Winchester on a Saturday afternoon.

Now the singer and songwriter is spending his time in the recording studio with hopes to release his debut solo single this summer.

"I'm really excited with what I'm doing at the moment, but it's all about getting it right," he said.

"I've been hearing good things about my music and I'm currently recording some tracks that I can discuss with companies who would then be able to distribute them."

But Craig, who has been playing the guitar since he was 14, says he still has a lot of hard work to do before he finds fame or fortune.

"Gone are the days when it's just a case of being spotted by a music producer who likes what they hear and wants to release your music," he said."Now you have to put your own time and money into making a recording first and then find a company to release it, which is where I am in talks at the moment."

Focusing on a career as a solo artist, Craig has been in a number of musical acts including a local rock band called The Project, and he now performs with cellist Jessica Cox, and describes his sound as melodic folk music.

"I always find it hard to describe my music to someone who hasn't heard it, but I like to have something a bit different to other people and with Jessica on the cello we bring in a classical melody to the songs."

Craig says he is inspired by the guitar playing of Jimmy Hendrix and the song writing of Van Morrison and, although he is waiting to sign a final record deal, he is confident that his music will be available to buy soon.

"I've been very careful with offers that have come along so far, but I'm determined that people will be able to hear my music, whether from sales over the Internet or from gigs, and I hope they will like it."

If he is successful in releasing his first single, then music fans in the south may have another famous Craig to start singing high praises of very soon.