Sandbach's Foden's Band has been crowned the 'Tameside Whit Friday Champions' for the 21st time in 22 years.

The Whit Friday Marches date back to 1884 and since then the event has grown in popularity.

Over 100 brass bands took part in the recent one last weekend (June 13th), participating in twenty different contests at venues scattered around the areas of Tameside and Saddleworth.

At each venue, bands march to a central location where they perform a contest march which is judged by an adjudicator. Foden's played the popular march 'The President' conducted by Michael Fowles.

After this the band members got back on their coach, travelled to the next village where they repeat the same procedure again.

The contests are open to all-comers, so the local youth bands get to match their skills against the UK's top bands - dashing from contest to contest.

Thousands of spectators travelled to Saddleworth and Tameside to watch in what is called 'the greatest free show in the world'.

Each contest offers prizes for the best band, best youth band, best soloists with each venue attracting between 50 - 70 bands.

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Each contest is organised by local volunteers with the running costs and prize money being raised by local donations, sponsorship and fund-raising events.

At the end of the night (each contest has its own finish time which is usually around 11pm), the adjudicator announces the results.

This year Foden's competed at all 11 venues in Tameside starting at 4pm. Foden's were placed first at eight venues as well as receiving a third place and numerous individual awards.

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