MEMBERS of Darwen Brass rounded off a successful first year by winning the Fourth Section at the recent Tameside Contest brass band competition.

Darwen, conducted by Steve Hartley, played the Four Cities Symphony, by Rodney Newton.

And they did enough to impress adjudicator Barry Thompson to take the Leader Trophy and the £600 first prize.

Steve said: "We have had a tremendous first year together, one which I have enjoyed immensely. The players have worked very hard, and this result is reward for all that hard work.

"They gave a solid musical performance of Four Cities, and in only our fourth contest together displayed maturity and discipline on stage."

Darwen Brass are now preparing for the Whit Friday March Contests on May 16, as well as a series of summer marches and concerts.

They will then begin their next contesting season, beginning with the North West Counties event at Fleetwood in October.