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Crosskeys Silver Band has finished runners-up at the National Brass Band Championships, where it competed against 20 of the UK’s best.

The band, which was created in 1902 by the mining community in the area, attended the finals in Cheltenham on Sunday September 17, having qualified at the Welsh regionals earlier this year.

The group of 28 competed in the third section, and after finishing runners-up will now compete in the second section next year – close to the highest level of competition.

Band chairman Michael Gray, spoke to Caerphilly Observer about the band’s success: “This was the third consecutive year in which we’ve qualified and it’s been really positive.

“I’ve been here since 1970 and whilst we’ve had many different musical directors, our current one, Sion Jones, is very talented.”

As well as landing second in the nationals, band member Catherine Showell was also crowned best instrumentalist with her euphonium.

Mr Gray spoke of how the band intends to “keep progressing” and is “excited for the future”.

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the National Brass Band Championships took place in Chepstow, instead of where it was held in Cheltenham.