HUNDREDS of musicians from all over the country descended on a former mining town at the weekend.

Shildon, County Durham, hosted the United Kingdom Federation Jazz Bands' World Championships.

The event began with a march through the town centre, before two days of competition in the town's Hackworth Park.

Organiser Barbara Kilding said: "The parade was spectacular and the whole of Shildon came out to see it.

"We had plenty of people coming through the park over the weekend and the event was a huge success.

"We are extremely grateful to the town council, which has worked very hard up until and over the whole weekend.

"There were 46 bands competing, each with 30 members and all the parents and supporters that go with them, so there has been a lot of work involved."