YOU can see them at festivals all over the country and at the biggest concerts in the land - but when Suffolk held its own air guitar contest just two people were prepared to take to the stage!Organiser, Carl Baker was obviously disappointed by the poor turn out.

YOU can see them at festivals all over the country and at the biggest concerts in the land - but when Suffolk held its own air guitar contest just two people were prepared to take to the stage!

Organiser, Carl Baker was obviously disappointed by the poor turn out.

The 36-year-old from Stowmarket said: “It was a bit of a damp squib really and we only just broke even. Lots of people said they were going to turn up when we arranged it but there were only about 30 people there in total.”

Despite the low numbers, the two brave competitors still managed to strike a chord with the meagre crowd and Mr Baker's enthusiasm for the eccentric past time more than makes up for the dismal amount of people who attended the event.

His advice to any budding air guitarist is to invest in a quality 'air amp' and his recommendation for a head-banging track to twang along to, Ace of Spades by Motörhead.

On the night, each 'guitar legend' had 90 seconds to impress a judging panel that marked them on three areas of expertise. Firstly, technical merit or how much the performance looks like the real thing, including accurate reproduction of all fretwork, chords, solos and technical moves.

Secondly, stage presence and charisma of a rock star, the ability to rock, lack of stage fright and power to drive thousands of listeners, or at least a couple.

Finally, Airness, an indefinable style that only the greats posses.

Mr Baker was not completely disheartened by the evening and hopes to keep pressing on until the air guitar gets the recognition he believes it deserves.

He said: “I think next time I'll give it a bit more planning and let people know it's happening a couple of month prior to the event. Ideally, I would like to hold a similar event once every month, with a grand final at the end of the year. These competitions are hugely popular in America and Europe and I want it them to take off here.”