A PIED-PIPER-STYLE procession followed a York rock band through the city as part of a “flash mob” gathering.

Believe In F.A.T.E staged the event yesterday to spread the word about themselves ahead of appearing in the final of a national music competition next month.

The band, which only formed last year, were one of about 10,000 who entered the Live & Unsigned contest for the chance to win a UK tour in front of 40,000 people, and up to £50,000 investment in their music. The band, Danny Porter and Joel Hewitt on guitars and vocals, drummer Ashley Harrison and bassist John Heaver, competed in the regional finals in Sheffield in April and won a place in the final.

The York rockers perform along with 14 other bands on July 23 at the O2 in London.

The worldwide craze known as “flash mobbing”, can see hundreds of people meeting suddenly to perform often surreal stunts before dispersing as quickly as they gathered.