ASTLEY Youth Band's fame is spreading on the continent.

Members have returned this week from a successful open air Millennium tour of Holland.

The 49-strong band, who took along 26 supporters, gave four park concerts at three venues, and got a brilliant reception at each.

The group had been preparing for their third tour for 18 months, and raised the cash helped by Christmas carolling.

After visiting Maastricht the players travelled to Luxembourg for their first lunchtime concert in the packed square at the Place D'Armes.

Solos were performed by Jonathan Farrell and Jonathan Smith (cornet), Helen Fahey (flugel), Alastair Burrows (trombone), Louise Harrison (euphonium) and a duet from brothers Jonathan and Michael Clegg on soprano cornet and cornet.

The following day took them to Efteling where they played two programmes in the famous theme park.

This time solos came from Michelle Lloyd (cornet), Elizabeth Cook (flugel), Steven Humphreys (tenor horn), Fiona Smith (euphonium), Christopher Wright and Rhea Foster (trombones).

On the fourth day the group spent the day toboganing before giving their final concert in Valkenburg, where their performance was recorded for a new CD.

Solos were played by Scott Broadhurst (cornet), Jonathan Clegg (soprano cornet), Ernest Collier (euphonium) and Robert Barry (trombone).

A percussion piece "Jam Samba" prepared for the tour featured Christopher Brown, Patrick Noone, Adam Yates, Fiona Snaith, Scott Broadhurst, Simon Minshall and David Wright.

The audience also enjoyed a novelty item for the trombone section, The Bold Gendarmes by Offenbach, performed by Rhea Foster. Alastair Burrows, Robert Barry, Fiona Snaith, Helen Dickinson, Simon Minshall and Christopher Wright.

At the end of tour party the following day presentations were made to the group leaders and all players received a medal inscribed Astley Youth Band Holland Tour 2000.

Three Tours awards were presented to 11 members who have completed all three trips to the Isle of Man, the South of France and Holland.

They were Robert Barry, Andrew Noone, Michelle Lloyd, Steven Humphreys, Stephen Winstanley, Jonathan Farrell, Scott Broadhurst, Louise Harrison, Mark Harrison, Simon Minshall and Samantha Minshall.

Musical director, Helen Minshall, said: "The tour was brilliant. We would like to thank everyone who helped to make it a success, particularly Wigan Council and the Mayor, Cllr Jean Hurst, who donated gifts, including plaques, to present to representatives at each venue."