A LEADING County Durham brass band is urging former members to join in its 50th anniversary celebrations.

Bearpark and Esh Colliery Band is holding a concert that will feature world famous cornet virtuoso Alan Morrison next month.

And it is inviting former bandsmen and women to be there in their audience.

Secretary Marion Waterworth, the band's solo tenor, said: "We have found that former members are scattered far and wide across the county and across the country. Successfully contacting them is nigh on impossible.

"We have put an appeal in British Bandsman, the national newspaper for brass bands.

"The concert will be a celebration cum reunion and we'd like to see as many past players as possible.''

The concert will be held on Saturday, September 16, in Elvet Church, Durham, at 7.30pm.

Former members are urged to get in touch by Saturday, September 2, when concert arrangements will be finalised.

Anyone interested should call Lindsey Wright on (01388) 768302 for more details.

The band, sponsored by Newton Grange Service Station, has 32 members ranging in age from ten to 70 and is a regular at the Durham Miners' Gala.

It was ranked ninth in a national competition last year and missed out on a trip to the Royal Albert Hall this year by just one point.

The band is having to start fundraising for new uniforms for the young players coming through the ranks after its application for National Lottery funding was rejected.