A BRASS band will be competing with some of the country's best musicians at a national competition after successfully raising £3,000 in just five months.

A BRASS band will be competing with some of the country's best musicians at a national competition after successfully raising £3,000 in just five months.

The Woodbridge Excelsior brass band stormed their way into the Boosey and Hawkes national brass band championships in Dundee after winning the regional heats in March.

The only hurdle left to overcome was finding the funds to take all 25 members to Scotland for the competition on September 19 and 20.

A flurry of fundraising ensued and last week the £3,000 target was reached, meaning all the band have to do now is concentrate on fine-tuning their performance.

It is the first time in the band's 157-year history that they have reached this stage of the contest.

They will be one of only three bands representing the south east of England.

Jackie Walker, assistant musical director, said: "We are all so excited. We can't believe we've done it. It's such an unusual thing for a band like us to get so far.

"We just really want to thank everyone that's helped us raise the money to enable us to do it."

Money was raised at the band's summer performances. Generous donations were also made by Woodbridge Town Council, Woodbridge Community Council and a number of local residents and businesses.

Normally the band's repertoire ranges from classical pieces to modern pop tunes. For the competition they are rehearsing one set test piece, 'The Call of the Sea' by composer Eric Ball.

Mrs Walker said: "We are all very proud of ourselves at the moment. Everyone has been working so hard and we are confident that we will do well."