ONE of the region's most famous brass bands is celebrating its best ever result in a major competition.

The Reg Vardy Band, from Stanley, came third in the All England Masters' Championship in Cambridge.

Previously known as the Ever Ready Band, its best result in the contest before this year was in 2001, when it came seventh. Band manager Les Palmer said: "The Yorkshire Building Society, currently the best band in the world, won, with the famous Brighouse and Rastrick Band in second place, so we were delighted to come third."

Conducted by Ray Farr, the band performed a moving piece called Harrison's Dream by Peter Graham. It is about the discovery of longitude calculations at sea following a disaster in which 1,700 lives were lost off the Scilly Isles.

Mr Palmer said: "Some band members had to put down their brass instruments and play handbells instead to signify the souls of the dead sailors going to heaven."

As part of its new sponsorship deal with car dealers Reg Vardy, the band also sported new scarlet coloured jackets.

Sir Peter Vardy, chief executive of Reg Vardy plc, said: "With a place already secured in the national finals at the Royal Albert Hall in October, they are really going from strength to strength."

The band's next major competition is the British Open in Birmingham on September 18.