FORGET Jimi Hendrix or Eric Clapton — Devon's new rock gods are strumming their own tunes using an instrument which has taken the county by storm.

Hundreds of children now play the ukulele, which has been freed from its George Formby, When I'm Cleaning Windows image.

Its resurgence is partly due to a discovery of how suitable the ukulele, which is actually a member of the lute family rather than just a small guitar, is for tiny hands and partly because lots of cash has been poured into funding music in Devon.

Ukuleles have also been featured on the Spongebob Squarepants cartoon series.

And teachers are choosing to teach ukuleles, which are relatively cheap to buy, because their grants will pay for enough for a whole class.

Talented young players from South Devon have performed with their instruments at Glastonbury this summer and those in the north of the county held a ukulele festival.

Youngsters in Exeter, currently keen on brass instruments, have been less enthusiastic but pupils in the Teign Valley are the latest to be bought ukuleles.

At Dunsford Primary, Rebecca Carne has set up a ukulele club as well as using the instruments in lessons.

Mrs Carne is new to the ukulele and started learning it just a week before her pupils.

Children are progressing well and gave their first concert yesterday.

Mrs Carne said: "I'm really impressed with how far they have come.

"When they performed This Old Man and London Bridge in assembly and played, everyone sang along with them."

Children are already enthusiastic about their new hobby.

Fred Giles, 10, said: "I chose to learn because I thought the ukulele would be fun, I would love to learn the guitar eventually."

Jim Cole, nine, has even been taking his ukulele home to practise.

"I try to play quite a lot," he said.

Freya Watts, nine, already plays the recorder, but was keen to add another instrument.

"It's been fun learning new songs," she said.

Ken Parr, head of Devon Music Service, said there has been an explosion in the popularity of the ukulele in recent years.

"Schools seem to like it because it's such a versatile instrument, you can play chords as well as a melody and sing along," he said.

"It's also very popular with children, maybe because they come in bright shiny colours."

Devon Music Service teacher Olly Davey, responsible for helping teachers start up ukulele lessons, said: "The instrument is so children- friendly and not many people realise the chord sequences are exactly the same as on the guitar," he said.

"We've given money to school learning communities to spend on music and teaching and they have really embraced the ukulele. There are five sets in Exmouth alone."

A ukulele ensemble meets at Marpool Primary in Exmouth every Monday from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.

Mr Davey has also produced a teaching pack for school staff.