RADIO One star DJ Steve Lamacq has added his voice to growing protests over Bolton's lack of a live music venue.

The respected BBC presenter said he was "shocked" to see the town had nowhere for bands to play.

And he has called on an entrepreneurial music-lover to step forward to help rectify the situation by building such a venue suitable for emerging bands.

Mr Lamacq's comments have been echoed many times in the past by up-and-coming bands such as Kinesis.

Many groups are forced to play their gigs in Manchester which means Bolton loses its music scene before it can begin.

Mr Lamacq said: "I'm shocked there is no live venue in Bolton. It's very important for a town to have one. When a band is starting out they have two objectives: one is to write songs and the other is to play a gig.

"In Bolton, bands can write the songs but they can't play in front of people in their own town."

The DJ was in Bolton on Sunday as part of the Radio 1 in Bolton weekend. He listened to 16 bands at the Life Bar Cafe in Nelson Square and later gave them constructive criticism. He said he was amazed by how many bands turned up in Bolton and added: "I think the reason so many turned up is because there are few chances to showcase music in the town.

"It would be lovely to see a live venue set up."