Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band has announced its decision to withdraw from the English Nationals Championship due to be held on 29th June in Birmingham.

Illness

A spokesperson told 4BR: "Illness will unfortunately prevent the band attending, as some key personnel are experiencing health problems and are receiving hospital treatment.

Carlton Main prides itself on its long term team approach and to perform with missing pieces of the jigsaw would deviate from this."

Illness will unfortunately prevent the band attending, as some key personnel are experiencing health problems and are receiving hospital treatmentCarlton Main Frickley

Emotional time

They added: "It is a very emotional time for the band at present and this difficult decision has been made in order to allow ‘Team Frickley’ to recuperate and present their rejuvenated, fighting fit line-up for the British Open challenge in September."