A songwriting partnership beat thousands of musicians from across Britain to get into the final of a national competition.

Steve Jeffery and Neil Kerkhove, both 29, from Worthing, were among a small number from 2,500 entries to make it into the final of the UK Songwriting Competition.

Judges of the award, sponsored by the Brit Trust, shortlisted the duo's song Popadum in the pop category and the dance music category.

Steve's Wedding Feast also featured as a finalist in the Gospel category.

Steve and Neil played music together at school but lost touch. They met up again 13 years later through the Friends Reunited web site.

They decided to write music together again and formed a band called A Dog Called Dave.

Steve came up with the lyric 'I don't want you baby, I just want your popadum' and they developed a melody and lyric.

A spokesman for the pair said: "Once you've heard Popadum it stays with you for days.

"Even the session singer phoned the composers to say the hook had kept her awake all night as it looped inside her head."

Neil and Steve are looking to release the song and are working on an album.

Wedding Feast can be found on Steve's Gospel album, Another Sky, available through his web site at www.stevejeffery.org.uk Further details are available at www.dogcalleddave.com Neil can be contacted on 01903 690210 and Steve on 01903 500373.