Colliery band hits top prize note

A South Yorkshire colliery band has taken the top prize in the English National Brass Band Championship.

Grimethorpe Colliery Band scooped the title after a going head-to-head with 15 bands from across England in the competition in Preston on Saturday.

Secretary Terry Webster said the group's winning performance of "On Alderley Edge" was their best ever.

He said: "It was one of the best performances we had ever done... everything fell into place."

The 28-strong band, which is also the current brass band champion of Great Britain, is now due to compete in the European Brass Band Championship in Norway in May 2008.

Mr Webster said the group would now be fundraising for the trip.