Bournemouth Youth Marching Band will be representing their hometown at the Disneyland Paris parade next week.

The team, some as young as 8 years old, will be marching alongside their favourite characters including Mickey Mouse, Buzz Lightyear, Tinkerbell and Donald Duck.

Reuben Sawyer, 10, plays the cornet and said performing at the Disneyland parade is ‘an opportunity of a lifetime’.

“I’m so proud of myself for being able to do it,” said Reuben.

“I love playing Disney’s Magical Marches and I’m really looking forward to seeing the characters dance to our music!”

Disneyland Paris is the first of the band’s stops, on August 2, as they start their six-day European tour to France, Netherlands and Germany.

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Saxophone player, Enola Harris, 10, said: “Being part of the Disneyland parade is like a dream come true! I’m really looking forward to seeing all the floats and meeting the Disney characters.

“Playing saxophone with them is going to be so much fun!”

Taylor Ayres, 16, plays the trumpet and cornet, and has been in Bournemouth’s Youth Band for nine years.

“I feel that I am part of a big family,” said Taylor.

“I have been inspired to take music at school and I am hoping to join the British Army Music Corp after going to Poole College.

“Having the opportunity to go the upcoming band tour to Disneyland Paris, the Netherlands and Germany gives me an amazing opportunity to gain more experience of playing music in other countries.”

Previous alumni of the band now star in the Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry and the Royal Marines Band Service, with some even serving in the national celebrations at the Coronation of King Charles III.

Thomas Cadman, 11, said: “I’ve made so many friends in the band and having the opportunity to play clarinet with them at Disneyland is going to be so special.

“I think I’ll remember it forever."

Bandmaster, Andrew Kinch, said that the band’s incredible achirvement is ‘well deserved’ after a huge amount of effort over the past months.

“We have always been proud to represent Bournemouth and the wider county of Dorset so this enables us to showcase our members on an even bigger stage,” said Andrew.

The band will also be taking part in the Swanage Carnival this weekend and later performing at the Ringwood Carnival in September.