THE Black Country is set to launch a new assault on the pop charts with the release of its very own anthem.

I Vow to Thee My Black Country by The Empty Can has already crashed the You Tube video sharing sites’ counters after over 250,000 views.

The song, which is based on the patriotic hymn I Vow To Thee My Country is now set to take on the mainstream charts by being released as a single.

The Empty Can have been telling the Base Sessions about their dreams of chart success and how their song as become the backing track for the region’s national Black Country day on Monday July 14.

Proceeds from the sale of I Vow To Thee My Black Country will be donated to Compton Hospice in Wolverhampton in memory of Black Country man Steve Evans, who died in January aged just 52 after a brave battle against cancer.

James Stevens, aged 36, lead singer in the three-piece folk band, said: “Within hours of this going on YouTube last year it crashed the views counter and we think it reached around 250,000 views in total before we took it off. We now want to re-launch it as a single to mark Black Country Day. If people in the area get behind it we genuinely believe we could get the Black Country in the charts.

“It’s a little bit surreal and hugely flattering, it’s a responsibility to be at the centre of that, it’s been a bit of a game changer.

“We are hugely proud as Black Country people who have watched the area with its ups and downs to be part of the celebrations.”

Copies of the song will be available to download from Tuesday May 27 from all the usual online retailers and costs just 99p.

The Base Sessions is recorded and produced by Base Studios in Stourbridge.