BRASS ensemble The Rainford Band are the Spring Festival Senior Cup champions 2016.

A year after winning the Senior Trophy competition, the outfit went one step better and topped a field of brass bands from across the country to claim the title, gaining promotion to the Grand Shield competition next year.

Along with 17 other contenders, the band, under musical director Gareth Brindle, played the set test piece 'Music For Battle Creek' by renowned brass composer Philip Sparke at the Winter Gardens venue in Blackpool on Saturday (May 14).

Principal cornet player Morvern Sinclair won the best soloist prize on the day.

One of the judges described Rainford's rendition as "simply stunning", which, according to band librarian Martin Rigby, was reflected in the huge ovation from the audience at the end of their performance.

Band chairman Paul Rigby said the result was "the band's greatest achievement yet".

He added: "This was a great achievement and was down to the sheer hard work and determination of both musical director and band members. It was an edge-of-the-seat performance which deservedly took the first prize.

"To use a football analogy, it is equivalent to winning the Championship one year and the Premier League the next!"

Next up for the Band is the Whit Friday March Contests which take place in Tameside and Saddleworth on Friday (May 20).

Rainford Band was established from the former Rainford Boys Brigade Silver Band in 1976.