The Lewis Pipe Band has been placed fifth in their category in the European Championships in Forres.

This means the band have returned with a trophy from every competition they’ve entered in the last three years.

After being promoted for the second time in two years, the band face a challenge to prepare for the new grade with a completely new set of tunes. They head to the World Championships in August.

Pipe Major Peter Mackay said: “To enter into Grade 3B was pretty daunting for all of us, as this meant we had to really up our game to compete against bigger and more well-established competition bands that compete every week throughout the summer.

“But as usual we knuckled down and worked hard, and to come away with a prize on our first attempt in this grade is an incredible achievement.

“The World Championships (in August )will be an even tougher challenge, but we hope to put extra effort in over the next six weeks and hope to do the island proud against bands from all over the world.”

Pipe band success at European championships 1/7/14