THE sound of marching bands rang through the streets of Stroud as the popular mini-festival returned to the town.

The Kingston and Malden Scout and Guide Band hit all the right notes when, for the second year running, its young members won the Stroud Marching Band Contest on Saturday, September 25.

The contest, now in its third year, has become a big event and the Kingston and Malden Band was up against stiff opposition from other youth bands from across the UK when it marched and performed in the streets of Stroud.

As well as coming away with the overall winners' trophy, the 40 young band members won cups for the best wind section and best percussion.

Individual trophies were also awarded to two proud band members.

Ten-year-old Jake Beard won the trophy for most entertaining individual as one of the band's youngest but keenest percussionists, who always had a smile on his face.

And it was a great day for their bandmaster, Alison Eggitt, who too best soloist for her flugal horn rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber's All I Ask of You.

Alison, who has been leading the band since 1995, was chuffed with the Band's winning performance: "From the minute we finished playing our routine, I was bombarded with compliments from all sorts of people," she said.

"I was so proud of all our young members and leaders. "It was a fantastic and memorable day for us all."