A FAMILY'S love of brass band music has led to a young musician collecting an award.

Twelve-year-old Hannah Gray, who plays the cornet, has been presented with the award for her special achievement with the junior section of Stanhope Silver Band, in Weardale.

The Weardale Society wanted to put on record the devotion shown to the band by Hannah and her family.

Her father, John, a lecturer at Sunderland University, plays the trombone, her brother, Ben, 16, plays the tenor horn, and her mother, Marguerite, headteacher at Belmont Primary School, Durham City, also helps out the band. The family moved from London to Stanhope 13 years ago.

For the past three years they have lived at Chester-le-Street. But they have never lost contact with Weardale and the silver band.

Hannah, her father and brother, make a 60-mile round trip each week for practice sessions in Stanhope. It is for that devotion to the 20-strong junior section of the band that Hannah has received the Weardale Society's cup for special achievement.

"I never get tired of playing the cornet," she said.

"Apart from that, most of my musical friends still live in Weardale."