THE last remaining brass band in Darlington is embarking on a fundraising campaign to help it compete on the national stage.

Cockerton Prize Silver Band has been making music for well over 100 years and has enjoyed a memorable year, with success in area and regional competitions earning a place in the finals of the national brass band championships, held in Torquay at the end of September.

The cost of transporting and accommodating 30-plus musicians and their instruments to the finals has, however, made a deep hole in the band's bank balance and it wants to raise funds for new equipment.

The band is in desperate need of new instruments and uniforms and the band room requires urgent repairs to stop damp coming in.

A spokesman said: "To play at the highest standard requires a lot of hard work and discipline in practising.

"It is a great honour and tribute to the efforts of the band and its musical director, Graham Catherall, to get to the national finals, but without new instruments we will be unable to maintain our high standard.

"We have been fortunate to borrow one or two instruments from other bands in the region, but this is a measure which we would rather not have to take."

"We hope that, as Darlington's only brass band with a long tradition of making music in the town, Darlington folk and local businesses will come to our aid and enable us to continue that tradition for many years to come." Band officials will be contacting potential patrons and sponsors in the coming weeks.

Having recently marched behind Santa's sleigh in the town's annual parade and led a the parade to the cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, the band is now looking forward to a concert on Sunday at Mowden Park Rugby Club at 7.30.

Tickets are £4, with concessions £2.50, and are available from the rugby club or by calling 01325 482901.

Anyone who would like to book the band should telephone the above number