Johnny Marr is at it again in Salford as he seeks to help another youngster

That charming man is at again. Having put one budding talent on the road to fame Johnny Marr is back for an encore.

The prince of the shimmering guitar wants to give a helping hand to another young Salford musician. His influence can have spectacular results - as one 13-year-old learned.

John Denton was chosen last year as the inaugral recipient of the Johnny Marr Award, set up to make a difference to promising musicians from the city. He used the £1,000 grant to help buy a 12-string guitar and pay for vocal and guitar lessons.

John and his band "The Height" - named after the area of Salford where they are from - then went on to headline a sold-out gig at Salford Lads Club, the Ordsall venue forever linked to The Smiths due to an iconic photoshoot famously used inside the album sleeve for The Queen Is Dead album in 1986.

He also got to meet his benefactor in person as they jammed together backstage at a gig at The Piece Hall in Halifax in the summer where Johnny shared the bill with The Charlatans.

Now the Salford Foundation Trust, which set up the Johnny Marr Award, is looking for another talented youngster to be the second worthy recipient of the grant. The £1,000 award is open to any young person living in Salford who can show that they have the potential to make a career in music.

Entries for the second round of the Johnny Marr Award open on Tuesday, 31 October. It’s a fitting date as it’s also the 40th anniversary of the release of The Smiths’ breakthrough hit ‘This Charming Man’ in 1983 - and Johnny Marr’s 60th birthday.

John Denton said: “The opportunity I've had with the Johnny Marr Award has been a dream. I ended up on so much radio, TV and in magazines. That was ok, but the best bit was the chance to