A NORTH Durham band were named as the best in the North-East, at the national championships, in the Royal Albert Hall.

Lanchester Brass Band came eighth out of 20 in their section at the competition, last Sunday.

That placed them as highest in the region, and earned them the cheers of more than 70 supporters from the area, as they played The Seasons, by Philip Wilby.

The judges singled out band member Elle Green for her tenor horn solo in the piece, and also praised the bass section, Jo Vary, Martin Naylor and Saun Leckenby for a "solid" performance.

Band chairman Tom Stone said: "Coming in the top half shows how the band is improving under the directorship of conductor Graeme Tindall."

The band's high performance in the past two years means next time they will compete in a higher section.

The band will perform in Lanchester, on Saturday, November 4.

In the morning, they will play at the annual meeting of the Lanchester Partnership group, at Lanchester Community Centre. At 5.30pm, they will lead a parade down Front Street and Kitswell Road to the bonfire and fireworks.