A BLAENAU Ffestiniog brass band is the best in Wales following their “greatest ever performance” at a national competition.

Earlier this month, The Oakeley Brass Band finished third at the National Brass Bands Championships of Great Britain, the highest ranking for any Welsh entrant.

They were joined on the podium by overall winners Newmains Brass Band, from Scotland, and the City of Norwich Brass Band who finished second.

Twenty bands participated in the final competition, coming from all across the UK.

Conductor John Glyn Jones was estatic with the result.

“It is a fantastic achievement for the band considering that over a 100 bands from all over the UK entered the competition,” he said.

“I have now conducted this band for over 25 years and this has to be one of the greatest results ever for me.

“We have been invited to represent Wales at this level many times before but never won one of the major prizes before.”