Newton Abbot Town and District Band faces closure if no new members come forward.

It desperately needs more musicans to join so that it can create a balanced harmonised sound.

The committee said it realised there was a problem in September and has been trying to address it since then.

It will make a decision about the band's future when it holds its annual meeting at Prospect Hall, East Street, Newton Abbot, on July 19.

'If we had a magic wand we'd be using it right now,' said Julie Cleave, secretary.

'We currently have around 17 players, which on paper sounds good, but we haven't got certain instruments.

'We're looking for cornet, trumpeters and instruments in lower sound bracket such as trombones, tubas and basses and tenor sax.'

The band reformed in 2003 to play at events in the district and have performed at the likes of Newton Abbot bandstand and the crowning of the town's carnival queen.

'It's sad as we've not been able to do that for a while as we don't have the make up to do so,' said Ms Cleave.

'We've got a great musical director, Sid Davis, who is an ex-marine trumpet player. He's great at teaching us, we just need more players.'

'We are an all abilities band, we don't play hard music but it will stretch musicians.'

Rehearsals are weekly at Prospect Hall from 7.30pm-9.30pm.

The youngest member is a 17-year- old trumpeter and the oldest is in their mid 70s.

Cllr Colin Parker, mayor of Newton Abbot, said: 'It has been on a bit of a knife edge in recent months as it doesn't know what the future holds.

'It would be a tremendous shame to see a town of this size not have band.

'They've performed at many town functions and we'll do what we can to help them continue. There is a hope that if more members can't be found they might become a smaller unit.'

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