An up-and-coming alternative/folk band, who last month won a ­competition run by the Reporter to appear at a concert in Saffron Walden, have collected a prestigious award.

Mortal Tides walked away with the prize for ‘Best Group 18 and under’ at the New Music Generator Awards, in Cambridge.

The group is made up of current and former Saffron Walden County High students – Great Chesterford brothers Noah and Jed Bevington, 17 and 16 respectively, George Brignal, 17, and Fergus Quill, 18.

The awards celebrate the achievement and potential of unsigned and independently signed artists from across the eastern region.

Mortal Tides were also awarded two artist development prizes on Friday – a slot on Sue Marchant’s programme across BBC Radio in the East and a gig at next year’s Strawberry Fair in Cambridge.

The band were known as From The Woods until recently, having to change their name prior to the release of their first EP on Wildsound Recordings. Entitled Break of Blue, the recording will be available on iTunes from Sunday.

Next month the group will be ­playing at two of Cambridge’s top music venues, headlining at the Portland Arms, on November 8, and returning to The Junction, on November 15.

At the beginning of September, Mortal Tides were chosen as one of a number of young up-and-coming acts in the Saffron Walden area to appear at a Blues Brothers Band concert.

The double-header event, which included an appearance from former Iron Maiden guitarist Dennis Stratton, was at Saffron Walden Cricket Club on September 5-6 to raise money for charity.

Acts were chosen after entering a competition run by the Reporter.