AN OPPORTUNITY to win £6,000 to provide free tuition is available to Tavistock's Stannary Brass Band — it just needs your vote.

The band is asking supporters to visit the Nat West community website or telephone their vote so it is in with a chance to win cash and promote brass music in the Tavistock area.

The website for the community awards is http://www.natwest.com/communityforce">www.natwest.com/communityforce and click on the 'education and young people' section or telephone 0800 2100 246. The closing date is October 23.

Treasurer for the band Jenny Gray said it would be great to give an opportunity to youngsters who were interested in brass music but did not have the money to buy instruments: 'Some of the large brass instruments are very expensive. In 2000 we set up an instrument fund so it would be great to give that a boost and encourage more people to take up music.'

She said there were over 1,500 groups battling to win in the education and young people category so she urged people to pick up the phone or log onto the website.