A ROSSENDALE band has taken top prize at one of the circuit’s most prestigious national events.

BMP Europe Goodshaw Band, based in Crawshawbooth, won the Third Section at the 2014 Butlins Mineworkers Championships in Skegness.

Adjudicators at the competition were impressed with the brass band’s rendition of Music For A Festival, by Philip Sparke, which saw them beat 17 other groups to first place.

The band’s musical director, Mike Cotter, said: “The band have come a long way in the last nine months, from a handful of players, to work so hard to find and encourage players to join the band and compete.”

He added: “All our people in the band are very valued and special people and are doing a wonderful job.”

The band returned to Rossendale with a trophy, a commemorative banner and a first prize cheque for £2,000.

Their next event will be the National Championships North West Area Contest at The Winter Gardens, Blackpool, on March 9, which is a qualifier for the finals to be held in Cheltenham in October.