Foden's and Roberts Bakery Brass Band have announced they have entered into a partnership that will be mutually beneficial to both Cheshire bands as well as the community.

Foden's band manager Mark Wilkinson said: “Foden's Band have a strong following in the Cheshire area with around 500 patrons as well as existing partnerships with Sandbach Council, Cheshire East, Love Music Trust Hub, Lions Youth as well as our own youth band.

“In order to strengthen our links with the community we approached Roberts Bakery Band, who are based in Sandbach, to form a partnership that, among other things, will result in a massed band concert each year.

“Foden's players will also be offering free private lessons to members of Roberts Bakery Band, as well as providing guest soloists to Roberts Bakery, each band advertising each others concerts to their respective patrons as well as Foden's principal players providing sectional rehearsals prior to contests.”

Roberts Bakery musical director Simon Stonehouse said: “We are delighted to formalise a partnership with  the Foden’s Band.

“We see the partnership as an excellent opportunity to further improve the standard of the Roberts musicians and also to provide cohesive development of brass bands in and around the Sandbach area.

“The partnership fits in well with the development plan we have for the band and can only bring around excellent opportunities for all stakeholders.

“We are looking forward to supporting Foden’s in some exciting projects in 2014 and beyond.”