MEMBERS of a Bolton brass band left the opposition brassed off - when they won a national competition for the first time.

The Hoover Brass Band came top in the third section of the National Brass Band Championships held in Harrogate at the weekend, beating 19 other highly-rated bands.

The 29-strong band, with members aged from 17 to 65, had to play a 13-minute set piece called Diamond Heritage.

Their conductor, Chris Wormald, said: "When they finished playing there wasn't really any doubt they would win. It was magical. They put on such a show."

Judges John Maines and Derek Broadbent singled out timpani player David Smith and Mr Wormald for particular praise. Soprano cornet player Chris Seddon, aged 19, also won the Best Instrumentalist award.

As first prize winners of their section, the band was presented with a £1,000 award. Band chairman Stef Borszcz said: "I have been in the band for 42 years and I've waited for this for so long. It's just a great achievement."

The band, which has been in existence for 210 years, has now secured automatic promotion to the second section of the brass band league. The band is believed to have been founded in 1794 and eventually became the Bolton Borough Brass band. In 1838, a band member went to play at Queen Victoria's coronation.

The band currently rehearses at the Family Church in Heaton.