YEADON air cadets have taken first place in the finals of a national band competition.

Seven young people from the 2168 (Yeadon) Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets competed for three months to win a place in the finals of the Air Cadet Band Competition. They carried off the top prize after competing against six other squadrons at RAF Halton near Aylesbury.

Performing in front of the air cadets commandant Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, and a panel of expert judges, the band performed a five minute routine including Clocks by Coldplay, impressing the judges with their musical abilities, standard of uniform and difficult routine.

The commanding officer of 2168 squadron, Flight Lieutenant Shirley Tune, said: "We are all immensely proud of our cadets. They have worked so hard to get the routine to the very high standard required. To win this competition is an incredible achievement and is the icing on the cake for 2016."

Cadet Corporal Tom Oakley said: "We are absolutely thrilled. It’s taken so much work but we worked so well together as a team, it was all about the team. We also need to thank our bandmaster, Flt Lt Young, for helping us so much with our routine."