A NEW band was officially launched at a concert to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment.

East Lancashire Concert Band, formerly Hyndburn Band, performed a variety of music, including arrangements of songs by Abba, Queen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Alf Wright, honorary secretary of the Blackburn Branch of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment Association, presented new music stand banners to the band's musical director Bernard Doyle.

The green and gold banners have been designed and made by Douglas Signs, of Blackburn.

Mr Doyle, a former member of the regiment's band, became musical director two years ago when Hyndburn was a traditional brass band.

He transformed the band's sound by bringing in a woodwind section, big band drummer Dave Yardley and introducing the modern music.

Mr Wright said: "As it was the new millennium it was decided to rename the band, East Lancashire Concert Band being the most appropriate and representative of the area."