CHIPPENHAM Town Band member Harold Harding has quelled rumours that the band is finishing and not going on tour to Germany.

"The band is not closing and we are going on tour," said Mr Harding. "A member of Chippenham Town Council said to one of our members 'I am sorry the tour has been cancelled' but it has not."

He said the band was going from strength to strength and had taken on several new members.

"We normally only get one new member a year and a few leave but this year we have had four new members. We have had to cancel engagements because we have so much on," said Mr Harding.

The band appeals to a wide range of ages and has an 80-year-old saxophonist and a 14-year-old clarinetist.

It is going to Germany at the end of July to perform three concerts in Boppard, Bad Neuenahr and Oberwesel.