THE Grimethorpe Colliery Band - the real stars of the wonderful film Brassed Off - showed how they managed to capture the hearts of the nation with this triumphant concert at Poole Lighthouse.

By rights, the brass band formed by miners in 1917 should have folded when the Grimethorpe Colliery was shut down in the 1980s.

But this is the band that played on; just four days after the Government announced the closure of Grimethorpe Colliery, the band competed in the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall and achieved a spectacular victory, scoring 99 out of a possible 100 marks.

Little wonder then that their remarkable story went on to form the basis of a critically-acclaimed film and that they have continued to enthrall audiences across the UK and abroad.

This concert featured a well-chosen programme, with highlights including the overture to The Barber of Seville, the theme from Indiana Jones and a selection of rousing American Independence tunes.

There were some memorable solos, including a faultless rendition of Jubilance from cornet player Iain Culross, and a joyous rendition of Amazing Grace, played "the American way" with passion and poignancy.

A selection of songs from Brassed Off were performed together in one piece, which disappointed me slightly.

But as an added bonus, the band treated us to a preview of a tango they will be playing on BBC Radio 2 later this week and it was simply stunning - wonderfully fluid and evocative.

The night ended with a charming and quirky farewell routine, which only accomplished musicians could get away with.

Their personality and humour shone through and is a perfect illustration of why this band is still going strong, against all the odds.