SELLERS International Band hit the high spot in Blackpool's Winter Gardens, gaining top honour in the 84th Spring Brass Band Festival.

Under the direction of Phillip McCann, the band beat 21 other contenders, which puts them back in the prestigious British Open Championship next September.

The band lost its place just a handful of years ago.

There was also excellent news for Crosland Hill-based Pennine Brass.

Under the baton of musical director Ian Porthouse, Pennine came second in the Senior Cup class, which moves the band into the Grand Shield next May.

There were no Huddersfield bands in the Senior Trophy section.

Although Lindley Band - conductor Neil Jowett - had a disappointing result, finishing well down the list in the Shield, there was some satisfaction for one of their percussionists. Eleven-year-old Karl Dransfield, of Golcar, was the youngest of the 1,700 musicians taking part in the 61- band, three-section festival.

It was his first appearance in a brass band contest.

Karl, a pupil at Colne Valley High School, plays cornet with the school's junior wind band and percussion with the intermediate band.

He is also learning the guitar.

Mum Denise plays soprano cornet with Lindley and also conducts the school's senior wind band.

Before joining Lindley she was with Sellers International and later Hepworth Band.

Completing this musical Colne Valley family is dad David, for 20 years bass trombonist with the famous Versatile Brass.

He is now playing with Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra.