A BRASS band has stepped up to save an annual parade in time for Armistice Day.

Astley Bridge Legion Club feared its Remembrance Parade was at risk of being taken off the streets after struggling to find a band or musician to play at the event.

But now the more than 30-year-old tradition has been kept alive as Wingates Brass Band agree to lead the procession on November 13.

Club chairman Graham Wells said: "It is just fantastic for us.The schools and clubs who join the parade can now enjoy a great event. I can't believe its happened as we have no money but they are giving up their time for free. It is a real coup for us, everyone is talking about it!"

Wingates, which is based in Westhoughton, will be joining the parade after enjoying a year of musical success.

As well as winning first prize at the Blackburn & Darwen March Contest from a field of 18 bands, in February the band – which has members aged from 17 years old to their 60s – qualified for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain for the first time in 11 years.

Taking place in October the group represented the North West and managed to raise £10,000 through a number of generous donations to perform at the final in the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Now they swap the captial for the community and help the communities of Astley Bridge remember those who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars and other conflicts.

The parade marches from the club based in Belmont Road down Blackburn Road to St Paul's Church and is joined by local schools and scout and guides clubs.

It was traditionally led by the Bolton Pipe Scottish Band until the band merged with another and its lone piper was also too unwell to play this year.

Band secretary and tuba player Dave Houghton said the band read about Astley Bridge's plight in The Bolton News.

He added: "Obviously when we read the article we jumped into help.

"I spoke to the band about it and a lot of us were really keen to do it because we haven't done an Armistice Day parade for many years. Sometimes people think Wingates band costs too much but that is not the case. We are doing this for the community."

The band is not charging for its involvement n the parade but, as has been done traditionally for the musicians leading the parade, the club will be holding a collection on the day towards the costs of the event.