YOUNG pipers and drummers from Renfrewshire have been confirmed as among the best on the planet.

Renfrewshire Schools Pipe Band was placed second in its category at the fiercely-competitive World Pipe Band Championships at the weekend.

Watched by tens of thousands at Glasgow Green, the youngsters played their hearts out to be named runners-up out of 21 bands competing in the novice juvenile B category.

The band’s delighted pipe major, Keith Bowes, said: “It was a super achievement, especially as we are such a new band.”

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The success comes hot on the heels of an earlier triumph at the end of July when the band was hailed as Scottish champions of the category.

This latest achievement is being viewed as due reward for all the hard work and practice the band has done since launching in November 2014.

Mr Bowes added: “We were 10th last year in the World Championships, so we have moved up to being second within the space of a year.

“We missed becoming first by only two points as two out of the four judges had us first.”

The band won accolades after its win in the Scottish Championships, with Renfrewshire Provost Lorraine Cameron describing the achievement as “fantastic.”

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She added: “We are very proud of all the pupils and their instructors.

“The council has invested money to keep school music tuition free because we want as many young people as possible to experience the benefits it has for their development. This weekend has been a great example of that.”

The band now aims to maintain its form as it competes at the Bute Highland Games on Saturday and the Cowal Highland Gathering next week.

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