IT has been the starting point of many a musician's career, and, if he pulls a few strings, busking could well be the way forward for one teenager in a London-wide competition.

Forest School pupil Sam Quill, 18, is in the play-offs for a highly prized year's licence to perform in the London Underground as part of the Rhythm of London competition.

Guitarist Sam performed with violist friend Niki Chang at Liverpool Street Station to qualify for the prize, but his entry was almost accidental.

“It was a but weird, because I didn't know it was a competition until I turned up,” said Sam.

“A friend of mine who gets me a few gigs got in touch about it. I turned up with my friend Niki and we found out they were filming it. We kind of rolled along with it.

“We got a good response, and a fair amount of money, but the organisers collected it all up at the end. I think it must have gone into Boris's coffers.

“It was good fun and nice to play with someone else because you can get a bit lonely with just you and a guitar.”

Sam, who lives, in Bushfields, Loughton, is up against 53 other performers with the winner decided by an online poll, and a final busk-off at the O2 on September 17.

“A busking spot would be a wonderful opportunity,” said Sam. “I've no idea how well we'll do. It kind of happened around us and I haven't seen any of the other acts.

“We were on the news the other night. From the responses I got it's amazing how many people watch late night news.”

After recently gaining three As in his A levels and with a place to study English at Oxford University in the bag, Sam has had a recent run of success, but is still unsure what to do in the future.

“I want to write but whether that means writing music I've no idea,” he said. “I'm just very into playing my music at the moment.”

To see Sam and Niki's performance, and to vote online visit london.gov.uk/rhythmoflondon.