YOUNG performers from a Hartlepool youth theatre have had their talents recognised with a series of awards.

The Hartlepool Footlight Youth Theatre, which provides opportunities in performing arts for young people aged 4-21, held its annual presentation night recently at the town’s Springs Health Club.

Theatre founder Paul Thompson said: “This year will always be remembered as the year that Great Britain so successfully hosted the Olympics and Paralympics and the theatre itself chose to mark these occasions by staging Colours of the World, a celebration of music, song and dance from around the world. The production went really well.”

At the awards night, the keynote award, the STAR (Special Thanks and Recognition) Award, went jointly to Sandra Pearce and Val Whitelock who have each given 13 years service as trustees of the theatre.

Mr Thompson added: “Both Sandra and Val deserve this recognition for their invaluable work and commitment to the theatre over such a lengthy period of time.”