WINGATES Brass Band has been given a £1,000 boost by Westhoughton Town Council.

The grant was approved after councillors were told that the band faces a constant fund-raising battle to stay at the top in the competitive world of brass bands.

Founded in 1873, the band is among the top 10 in Britain but it is now six years since it enjoyed the benefits of a major commercial sponsor.

Former world and national champions on four occasions, the band enjoyed its most significant success at National level for 22 years when it scored a huge triumph in the All-England Masters Brass Band championships held in Cambridge earlier this year.

The band's representative, Mr David Kaye, said that despite the tremendous success at Cambridge, which earned the band £1,500 in prize money, the cost of competing in the top national competitions is very high and expenses for the Cambridge trip, including payment of the band's professional conductor, transport and meals, cost more than £3,200.

"For a long time now, despite its own very considerable efforts, the band has found it very difficult indeed to stay out of the red, but the fight goes on to preserve a most important part of our town's history, which, next year will reach the notable milestone of 125 years of age," said Mr Kaye.

The band's last major sponsor was British Aerospace at Lostock,which terminated in 1991.

Mr Kaye said that since then the band has somehow remained "alive" as a self-financing organisation but balancing the books is a constant and major headache.

But he said the band is continuing to fight and generate as much income as possible and is determined to mark next year's anniversary in a special way.

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