FISHBURN Band have been crowned champions of the Durham League.

The band, conducted by Graham O'Connor, took the honours in section A of the Durham County Brass Band Association's annual grading contest at Spennymoor Leisure Centre.

Second place went to local rivals Ever Ready, with Broughtons Brass Band taking third place.

Fishburn Band also took individual trophies for best soprano, won by Malcolm Usher, and best trombone, won by Malcolm Gill.

The victory is a great start to the year for the band, which faces a hectic schedule over coming months.

First on the agenda is a fundraising concert in Trimdon Colliery Working Men's CLub on Friday, February 21, at 8.30pm.

The next contest will see the band playing at the Dolphin Centre, in Darlington, in March, where a first or second placing will mean a trip to London in October for the National Finals.

Fishburn will then be travelling to Blackpool in May to compete in the invitation-only Grand Shield contest.

After the success of the band's first compact disc, Durham's Pride, members will be back in the studio in June to record a second for the band's 50th anniversary.

The band's website is www.fishburnband.co.uk. Anyone wanting to help with sponsorship or to book the band for a concert can contact Len Potts on (01740) 654520 or Audrey Gill (01429) 265101.