A YORK student is hoping to become the youngest new member of a party band that was formed more than five years before she was born.

Natalie Hunter, 16, who lives in Leeds Road, Selby, and studies health and beauty at York College, is among 23 hopefuls to reach the semi-final of Agadoo - the search for a new line-up for Black Lace - which is being screened on Yorkshire Television next Friday.

She will "push pineapples, shake the tree" along with fellow semi-finalists Christopher Charman, 26, from Pocklington, housewife Caroline Kinnear, 33, from Stillington, near Easingwold, and Louise Stalker, 25, a sales executive from Harrogate.

The band, which has had party hits for more than 20 years, has gone through many face changes.

The new line-up, chosen by judges including original band member Colin Gibb, will be revealed next Friday.

Natalie, who was not born when the band was formed, said the auditions were great fun and good experience

She said: "Of course I had heard of Black Lace, everyone has I think. I knew all about the band.

"They are a fun party band but you look up to them, they've done the circuit before."

Mother-of-two Caroline Kinnear said: "These things are tongue-in-cheek and you've just got to go along ready to have a laugh at yourself."

Judge Colin Gibb, who is leaving the band to concentrate on other projects, said: "We've narrowed the field down to just 23 which includes a few professional entertainers, several semi-pros and a fair share of amateurs."

Updated: 11:29 Friday, March 15, 2002