WEM Jubilee Band has qualified for the national finals of a brass band championship for the first time in 16 years after enjoying success in the regional heat.

The band took part in the Midlands Regional Brass Band Championship in Corby in Northamptonshire on Saturday, March 4, and has now been invited to the national finals in Cheltenham in September.

Wem Jubilee Band members competed against other bands and were praised for their performances, coming third overall.

Band secretary Ruth Wilson said: "There were 15 bands in our section on Saturday with comments such as 'good detail' and 'well played' leading the adjudicators to award us third place.

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"The soloists were also praised for their performances within the test piece, titled 'Hungerford Town' by Darrol Barry."

Ms Wilson praised the band director Cathy Rutherford for helping the band prepare and credited her for helping it come third.

She said: "Musical director, Cathy Rutherford, is understandably elated with the result and thanked the band for all their hard work in the rehearsing of the piece.

"The band also hugely appreciative of all the preparation that Cathy did to enable us to achieve our podium place."

The band last appreared in national finals in 2007 and it will be a big occasion for many of its younger members.

Ms Wilson said: "This will be the first time the band has appeared at the national finals since 2007.

"For two of our younger members, it was their first area contest and for quite a few members, this will be their first finals appearance with the band.

"We look forward to representing our town at this national event and hope to do Shropshire and the Midlands proud."