Former dancers CPR have got the looks, the pecs, the style and the attitude, plus stacks of musical talent to boot. Combining rap, pop and soul, the four friends - whose name stands for Creating Positive Relationships - write, record and perform all their own material.

The boys, aged 22 and 23, have had a hectic summer since one of their songs was picked up by the dance label, Ministry. They soon found themselves performing before a crowd of 20,000 people alongside huge acts like Five, Honeyz, Gary Barlow and Dina Carroll at the Leeds festival, Party In The Park.

CPR are led by Mr Smiths dancer Bov Atchinson, a former St John's pupil from Latchford, who performed with Michael Jackson on his Dangerous tour. Joined by Savin, from Sankey Bridges, Paul, from Bolton, and Warren, from Leeds, he now hopes to follow in the footsteps of his friend, former Mr Smiths performer Spike Dawbarn.

Said Bov: "I was Spike's dance teacher before he joined 911 - every step he knows he learned from me. He's really supported us and he thinks we're going to be really big.

"We're not manufactured - we're a proper band. We don't write many love songs and we think dance routines detract from the music," he said.

The band's 'silent' fifth member is studio wizard Latch, of Padgate, who ironically turns out to be the most outspoken of the group.

He added: "We're not really a boyband - boybands have an image of talentless gimps that have been put together by some megalomaniac manager."

With CPR set to follow Five and 911 to the top of the charts, A&R executives are beginning to see Warrington as the north's number one breeding ground for pop success.

Said Bov: "A lot of the reason why Warrington produces these groups is to do with Mr Smiths - people learn to dance there and then move on to bigger things."

"I think Warrington is a really positive town," Latch agrees. "People really get behind you here. We'd like to thank everybody who has supported us so far."

CPR appear at Sherdley Park Show this Saturday at 4.45 pm and on Sunday at 4pm.

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