A REJUVENATED brass band, back in action after a recent relaunch, has announced the date of its first public performance.

Although it had £1,000 in the bank and more than a dozen instruments available for use, Leyburn Band faced being silenced forever before a public meeting was held last month in a last-ditch attempt to galvanise fresh interest.

The idea paid off, attracting both new musicians and volunteers willing to help with the administration - and now members have confirmed they will be putting their talents on show for the first time when the town's Christmas lights are switched on next Friday.

The band will play Christmas carols in the Market Place from 6pm with the switch-on ceremony planned at 6.30pm.

"Leyburn Band has got off to a tremendous start" said chairman Gerald Hodgson.

"We have some experienced players who will be supplemented by guest musicians for our first public performance since re-forming.

"Most importantly, we have 16 enthusiastic learners, all making good progress, who will enable us to fully re-establish the band.

"I have been amazed how quickly people of a wide age-range are mastering the basics and I would encourage anyone with an unfulfilled ambition to play a musical instrument to get in touch with us and have a go."