ST HELENS Youth Brass Band continue their voyage to prestigious venues next month when they play at the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank.

The National Youth Brass Band Champions have been chosen to perform there as part of this year's Music for Youth National Festival, which will take place from July 2 to July 7 and will feature over 280 groups, made up of some of the nation's most talented young musicians.

They will perform concerts on Thursday July 5, and Friday July 6.

This appearance will be the culmination of an exciting year for the band who, in February, beat off stiff competition to be named National Youth Brass Band Champions for the fifth consecutive year.

Since last summer, they have played a successful series of concerts in Austria, performed at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, London's Regents Park, and appeared on the BBC's Blue Peter.