We selected from the VLA FIRST survey a sample of 94 objects with star-like counterparts in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), and with APM POSS-I colour O-E>=2, i.e. consistent with their being high-redshift quasars. 78 of the 94 candidates can be classified spectroscopically on the basis of either published data (mainly SDSS) or the observations presented here. The fractions of QSOs (51 out of 78) and redshift z>3 QSOs (23 out of 78, 29 per cent) are comparable to those found in other photometric searches for high-redshift QSOs. We confirm that selecting colour O-E>=2 ensures inclusion of all QSOs with 3.7<=z<=4.4. The fraction of 2<=z=2.
Cone search capability for table J/MNRAS/370/1034/table2 (Radio/optical properties and spectroscopic classification of the 94 candidates)
