A BAND will round off a successful year with two Christmas concerts this week.

Cockerton Prize Silver Band will perform tonight, at the Cockerton Club, in Darlington.

Doors open at 8pm and admission costs £3.

The second performance is an informal evening of music at the Model T pub, in Mowden, Darlington, on Friday, at 8pm. Admission is free.

The band recently came second in the Durham League’s area grading contest. The success comes a year after Cockerton made the finals of the national championships.

The band, which is in its 138th year and is a registered charity, uses the Christmastime to raise funds to meet its expenses for the ensuing year.

Spokesman John Steel said: “2008 has been a good year for the band because we were able to reach our target of buying two new tuba instruments at over £6,000 each.

“It has taken us three or four years to raise this kind of money to replace a couple of aging instruments, which were bought 25 years ago.”

Money raised this Christmas will go towards more instruments, including some for the junior band, which has seen its numbers swell from six to 15 in the past 12 months.

A new associate band, The Cockerton Codgers, is also being formed for members who want a more relaxed experience without the intense rehearsal schedules.

For details about joining the bands, visit cockerton.org or call 01325-482901.