LOCHGELLY High School's Junior Pipe Band have been stripped of a world title and told they finished 10th in the competition.  

AFTER a mistake made by the organisers of the World Pipe Band Championships, the first prize they received in Glasgow on Saturday has now been taken away.

They were named Novice Juvenile Band World Champions, but on Tuesday evening it was revealed that due to an "administrative and inputting error", the results read at the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) competition were wrong. 

The organisers said they would speak to all concerned parties yesterday (Thursday) and, although they haven't stated publicly, they've told Lochgelly's band they should have finished 10th instead of first. 

In a letter to parents and carers, Ross Stewart, the headteacher at Lochgelly High, said: "As you may be aware from recent articles circulating online, the RSPBA have been in touch to confirm that, owing to an administrative error, our Junior Pipe Band were wrongly announced as winners at the recent World Championships in the Novice Juvenile B grade.

"Following a meeting this afternoon (Thursday), the RSPBA has confirmed that the band's correct placing was 10th overall. Whilst this is still a remarkable achievement, you will understand the disappointment that our young people are currently experiencing."

The RSPBA believe that the cause of the error was down to them facilitating a late notice change to the order of play for the NJB final.

They have since said that "steps have been taken to ensure that there can be no repeat of this situation at future championships."

Mr Stewart continued: "However, in spite of their circumstances, our young people wished to go on record in congratulating the new world champions, who will be announced in due course by the RSPBA, and would not wish for recent events to take away from such a commendable achievement.

"The mature response and graciousness of our affected young people, particularly during such an uncertain and emotionally challenging time, has been truly inspiring and - along with our entire pupil and staff body - we remain incredibly proud of them and all they have achieved.

"Both the junior and senior bands have represented Lochgelly High School impeccably all season, and we look forward to sharing in their future successes.

"Many thanks to all within our school community who took the time to congratulate the band. We hope you will be able to do likewise in light of their response to a situation that they were most unfairly subjected to.

"I trust this information will help bring a close to continuing online speculation over the circumstances behind such an error, which we have been assured will not take place again.

"Thank you again for your support of our young people."

The Times reached out to the RSPBA to ask if they had anything to add in light of the new results and were told that their statement had already been published online.