THE Conservative parliamentary candidate for Bradford West, George Grant, has enjoyed a meeting with the brass band that was founded by his great-great-great-great grandfather.

John Foster established the Black Dyke Mills Band in 1835.

Mr Grant said: "I’ve carried on the tradition and play the tenor horn. I was briefly a member of the Northallerton Silver Band but nothing like in the league of the current Black Dyke Band."

The band's secretary Mike Shenton arranged for Mr Grant to visit to see how the band has developed over the years.

"Bradford has formed such an important part of my family's past, and now standing for MP here it's such a pleasure to have Bradford as part of my present and, God willing, part of my future after May 7," he said.

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"He [John Foster] was a keen French horn player himself, although I understand he was actually asked to leave the band by the conductor shortly after he joined as his musical talents perhaps didn't match his ambitions as an instigator."

Other candidates in Bradford West are: Harry Boota (Ukip); George Galloway (Respect); Alun Griffiths (Lib Dem); Ceilia Hickson (Green); Therese Hirst (English Democrats); James Kirkcaldy (Independent) and Naz Shah (Labour).