UP and coming band Beatbullyz have taken the step from rocking Long's Bar to national stardom.

The soulful Swindon quartet were beamed into the homes of millions last night as they appeared, in cameo, on Channel 4's teen soap Hollyoaks.

The group gathered with friends and fans at Long's, on Victoria Road, to watch their single - Keyz To Life - feature on the show.

The foursome appeared halfway through the episode, to raucous cheering from the assembled crowd.

The TV slot came after the band won a competition for unsigned bands to appear in the popular drama.

Andy Bullimoor, better known as Bully is the band's frontman.

He described the experience of watching himself and his group on primetime television.

He said: "It was pretty weird, I was a bit nervous about it beforehand but we had more than 3,000 hits on our website straight after so it obviously worked.

"It was a good laugh and it's brought us to a new audience.

"Things are going really well for us at the moment - this year has been fantastic and there's a great feeling about the future.

"We can really feel the spark at the moment." The band are now seeking national airplay and have urged all their fans to email BBC Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley to ask her to play Beatbullyz.

Bully said: "We'd love it if all our fans could email jo.whiley@bbc.co.uk and ask - who was that band on Hollyoaks last night."

Long's owner, Mike Sheridan said he was only too pleased to play host to the band's first foray into the national limelight.

He said: "I know the lads well - they've played here quite a few times and I think they've got a real talent.

"I think they've got a massive future ahead of them and I'm glad to be a part of it."

Sadly only two of the band members were able to make last night's premiere, with MC, Bozo and DJ, Philonious Funk feeling under the weather.

But singer Bully and drummer Disco Stu were on hand to represent the band.

Bully said: "We make enough noise on our own so it's gone well. We've got great support here. Our friends and fans have been brilliant.