A POPULAR brass band is celebrating ten years of entertaining with a series of concerts in and around Northallerton.

Alverton Brass had its first rehearsal in the Orchards Care Home in Brompton in October 2007 and since then has gone from strength to strength, meeting there for rehearsals every Thursday at 7.30pm.

It draws from a vast pool of musical experience, not only from the brass band world, but also military bands, dance bands and orchestras.

"Many of us have played in brass bands for years and therefore know each other, making it a very friendly band," said member Martin Hatfield.

"Some players have even been coaxed out of retirement and it was realised recently that the bands' age range covers seven decades and can boast hundreds of years of experience."

The band does not take part in competitions and mainly concentrate on performing entertaining concerts raising money for charities either independently or joining forces with other bands and choirs.