A SCOUT-band will be able to claim they are 'by Royal appointment' after they keep an important engagement in April in front of the Queen.

The band from the 2nd Rossendale pack have been selected to attend Windsor Castle to accompany the parade of scouts who will be presented to the Queen before marching from the castle to attend a church service at St George's Chapel on the estate.

Band leader Michael Warwick said: "We have been invited to attend the parade on April 21 and were selected out of 100 scout bands in Britain for the honour.

"We are going to make a weekend of it by going down on the Saturday and letting the band members get accustomed to Windsor before they have to play the day after. Half of the members have never seen the castle so it will give them a chance to get used to the place.

"On the Sunday we will assemble at midday and have an inspection. The Irish Guards will be leading the parade.

"At about 1pm we will march into the castle when there will be hundreds in the crowds and we will be playing for about 20 minutes, we are just sorting out what tunes.

"It will not just be marching music because for quite a while we will be in the quadrangle in Windsor Castle playing.

"There will then be a review in the castle and we already know the Queen will be there herself when she will speak to some of the Queen's Scouts in the parade."

Once the Queen's inspection is complete the Rossendale band will lead the parade out of Windsor Castle and on to St George's Chapel. There are 45 band members making the trip ranging in age from 10-year-old percussion player Christopher Carter to two grandfathers who play with the band Ken Travis and Dave Walsh, both who play bass. Most are teenagers.

Rehearsals have been stepped up at St John's Scout Room in Burnley Road , Bacup, to twice a week to make sure they are ready for the big day.

Michael, himself a Queen's Scout, said: "There is possibly only myself from the band that has seen this event before and so they don't really know what they are in for.

"It is one of the few occasions in the year when members of the public are allowed into the inner quadrangle.

"The frightening thing from my point of view is as we lead the parade to the chapel I am going to be the one in front of the parade leading the band!"