AN award winning band in Portishead has launched an unusual sponsorship drive in a bid to raise £10,000 to allow them to compete

AN award winning band in Portishead has launched an unusual sponsorship drive in a bid to raise £10,000 to allow them to compete in a national competition.Portishead Town Band is asking local residents and businesses to come forward and support its efforts by sponsoring either a player or an instrument.The team of musicians needs to raise the money to cover the costs of competing at the National Brass Band Championship in Harrogate later this year.The band won through to the finals after beating off tough competition from other groups across the south west.Band chairman Paul Field said: "The band is looking forward to the challenge of representing the west of England against the best brass bands around the country in the finals in September."But we have a tough challenge of raising nearly £10,000 to be able to attend the competition. Anyone wishing to contribute can sponsor a particular player, a seat on the Harrogate coach, an instrument, or if they prefer, just make a donation."Sponsors will be kept up to date with the progress of the band and may even get to share in our success when the winner's trophy is returned to the area."The band, consisting of 28 amateur brass and percussion musicians, regularly competes in local and national competitions. It also celebrated success recently, winning top place in a regional brass band competition. The band, conducted by Ian Dickinson, won first place in the Weston-super-Mare Brass Band competition, competing against eight other bands from across the South West and Wales.For more information on sponsoring the band contact Paul Field at paul.field@portisheadband.co.uk