An award-winning Bury brass band has been honoured with a royal award.

Besses Boys’ Band has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK and is the equivalent of an MBE.

The band are a 2nd section brass band and registered charity which formed in 1943.

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They have won numerous championships and have performed locally, nationally and internationally with competition success across Europe and Australia.

The band have also appeared on a number of TV programmes and have performed in front of royalty including Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

They are a diverse group of musicians that encourage children to learn musical instruments, developing talent and performance skills.

The organisation is proud of its tradition of giving a platform for young musicians to develop for many years.

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The band has developed some of the country’s top musicians that have gone on to such bands as Foden’s, Brighouse and Rastrick, YBS, world leading orchestras and His Majesty’s Bands of the RAF and Household Division including the Irish, Welsh, Coldstream and Grenadier Guards.

Two volunteers from the band will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace next year along with other recipients.

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Besses Boys’ Band chairman, Bradley Hirst, said: “It is fantastic to receive this prestigious award in recognition of our hard work and voluntary commitment to both our organisation and our community.

“It recognises the efforts of all our players, officials and volunteers who have served, and supported, Besses Boys’ Band since our formation in 1943.”

The band is one of 281 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the award this year.

The accolade recognises outstanding work by volunteer groups to support their communities.