The West Yorkshire Police Band has announced that they are to end their participation in brass band contesting.

Concentrate

A spokesperson for the band told 4BR: "It was considered that the band should concentrate on its concert and civic engagements. We will concentrate our efforts on raising money for charities including Help For Heroes."

D Day

The band recently recorded a CD based on wartime favourites, which was sold for the Help for Heroes and the National Police Memorial charities in Normandy on their visit to support the D-Day commemorations in and around Caen.

It was considered that the band should concentrate on its concert and civic engagementsWest Yorkshire Police Band

Menin Gate

In September, members of the band are to undertake a sponsored cycle ride from Boulogne to Ypres in Belgium to raise money for the charity. They will be joined at a later stage by the full band that will play at the famous Menin Gate.

Meanwhile, in 2011, at the request of the British High Commission in the USA, the band will revisit New York to play at the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy.