Tom has an internet hit

Stafford songwriter Tom Sofa has become a hit on internet site YouTube with a song penned in honour of his hometown.

The anthem – called Stafford Song – has had 1,457 hits on the Stafford Forum website where it was launched, and more than 100 people have posted replies applauding his efforts.

Now the video footage on infamous video sharing website YouTube is attracting more and more interest, especially after the song was featured on local station Signal Radio.

Tom, who lives in North Castle Street, Castletown, Stafford, said: “My friends called me at 8am and said ‘Stafford Song’s on the radio.

“The DJs were asking, ‘Who is this Sofa?’ – I just couldn’t believe it.”

Tom, aged 33, grew up in Ranton and went to Stafford College before moving to Wolverhampton, the Isle of Man and eventually Germany, where he lived for 10 years.

He said: “I went with just a rucksack, but just ended up staying for a decade before coming back to Stafford in June last year.”

Tom works at the Gatehouse Theatre and first came up with the idea of writing the song for a competition run by the Gatehouse to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

Local film maker Jasper Films have documented Sofa’s appearance on Signal Radio and anyone can watch the video and download the song for free at www.staffordforum.com