Michelmersh Silver Band has made an impressive start to its 120th year by moving one place higher up the national rankings.

With a previous best of seventh in the second section following two first places in the third section among its achievements, it finished sixth in the National Brass Band Association's West of England Regional Championships at Torquay.

Images of the Millennium, the piece of music chosen by the organisers for the second section sparked some controversy among all the regions.

It was originally written by composer Howard Snell as a piece for two brass bands and many felt it would have been a demanding work even for the Championship section, the Association's top flight.

But Michelmersh made an all-out effort to meet the challenge and secured the services of a nationally high profile musical director, Melvin White, to rehearse them in the weeks leading up to the contest and to conduct them on the day.

Although disappointed with their performance on the stage, the band were delighted with six place in a field of 16 competing bands.

It secured their future in the second section, but meant they missed out on an invitation to compete in the national championships in Harrogate later in the year.