BRASS band players are to assemble en masse next month to help one north Durham band raise cash so they can play the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Members of Lanchester Brass Band have organised a massed bands concert at the Consett Empire to raise money to take part in the National Brass Band Championships.

The Lanchester players will be joined by the Northumbria Police Band to create a band of 55 players. The main feature of the evening will be a performance by a guest soloist, euphonium virtuoso Morgan Griffiths, who is principal euphonium with the Yorkshire Building Society Band, current British and European Open Champions.

The performance, on Saturday, September 16, at 7.30pm, will be the final appearance of the Lanchester Brass Band before they compete in the championships in October. Tickets cost £4 and are available from the Queen's Head Public House in Lanchester and Consett Empire box office, in Front Street, Consett. Anyone interested can also call (01207) 238170