THE third album of Runcorn band The Fireflys raced straight into the top 10 when it was released last week.

Embers Of The Autumn had received rave reviews before its release on August 5 and peaked at number eight in the iTunes album chart before having remained firmly in the top 200 since.

Lead singer and guitarist Lee Wylding, bassist Stephen Roberts and drummer Andie Packer, all from Runcorn are proud to represent their town and hope to encourage the creation of more guitar-based bands in the area.

Lee, from Weston Point, said: "Before us it has just been pop singers and manufactured acts that hailed from Runcorn, but now a guitar-based band has finally achieved something worthwhile and I can’t see why other bands cannot follow in our footsteps."

The alternative rock band formed in Runcorn in 2007 and include The Smiths and Pearl Jam amongst their influences.

The band played a sold out album launch show in St Marys Church in Halton Village on August 3 with fans coming from all over the UK to support them.

They will finish off the year with a headline show at the 02 Academy in Liverpool on December 13.