Licensed to busk

They were once the urban guerrillas of entertainment - hopping carriages with guitars in hand, drowning out announcements. But now London Underground has decided to make buskers legal.

A total of 500 musicians are appearing before a panel of judges this month to earn the right to play on the Tube system.

Here are the first to pass the auditions - on Monday they, along with 294 others, will begin a four-month trial at 25 pitches in 12 stations, including Oxford Circus and London Bridge.

Each will get a photo and the right to "several" three-hour slots a week. There are strict rules - including a restriction on how entertaining they can be. If a crowd starts to gather, the performer must stop and wait for it to disperse.

LU aims to bring London into line with Paris and New York by letting buskers play without fear of arrest. If successful, the trial will be expanded by the end of the year.

Meet the buskers (from left to right)

Marco Magnani, 35:

Singer, guitarist, part-time film extra; rents one-bedroom flat in Holloway; busking for 10 years, a regular in the Thameslink passenger tunnel at King's Cross; has been arrested and fined £150; favourites are Here Comes The Sun (The Beatles), Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks).

Nakissa Campbell, 36:

Saxophonist, full-time musician; owns three-bedroom flat in Bow; no busking experience "because it was illegal and I didn't want to get arrested"; improvises to backing tracks.

Lucie Rejchrtova, 25:

Accordionist and part-time film extra; rents one-bedroom flat in Holloway; two years busking in London, Oxford, Liverpool and Northampton - and Blackfriars Bridge "when the weather's nice"; favourites are folk song Dirty Old Town and medieval Czech song Battalion.

Angelina Kalahari, 37:

Professional classical singer; owns one-bedroom flat in Arnos Grove with her husband; once earned £80 in five minutes when she sang for a group of American tourists; favourites include Ave Maria (Schubert).

Dylan Buckle, 29:

Singer, guitarist and education officer for Camden council; rents a room in Holloway; has four years' busking experience, nights and weekends; favourite is Stuck In The Middle With You (Stealers Wheel).

Aaron Short, 22:

Singer, guitarist, studying for a degree in Popular Music Performance at Vocaltech in Acton; lives in Acton shared house; has some busking experience from when he lived in Ipswich, and he plays in a duo in pubs and clubs; favourites are Wonderwall (Oasis) and I Feel Fine (The Beatles).