AN award-winning brass band clinched another victory at a regional competition and found themselves promoted in what is set to be one of the most impressive years of their history.

Barnsley Metropolitan Band celebrated its 50th anniversary in style last year, being crowned Yorkshire champions, hosting a variety of exciting shows and even making the finals of the Proud of Barnsley awards.

However, their 51st year may be the best yet, as after taking a top spot at the area third section final in Huddersfield last weekend, the group are preparing to head to Cheltenham in September where they will represent Yorkshire on the national stage for the fifth time.

If all of this wasn’t enough, the town centre-based band have just received a promotion.

Like football, brass band competitions are split into divisions - called sections - with the top ‘championship section’ featuring the likes of Grimethorpe Colliery Band.

The Met band have now moved up to the Yorkshire area second section, though still face a variety of challenges before their national competition later in the year.

After heading to Cheltenham for the same competition last year, they already know how difficult such a trek can be, and are expecting to have to fork out £6,000 to make it there this year.

As such, they are asking the public for help with their award-winning ambitions.

Chairman Paul Thomas told the Chronicle: “It’s amazing - I’ve still not got my mind around it.

“All the hard work and commitment the players have shown over the last few weeks has paid off - this has included giving their time up on Saturday and Sunday as well as the normal rehearsals on a Wednesday evening.

“When it was announced that we had won, you can’t imagine the noise and scenes of joy not just from the band but from parents and our supporters.

“There was a lot of joyful tears.”

A fundraising link can be found here: https://www.barnsleymetband.co.uk/easy-fundraising