TALENTED youngsters from Wear Valley who attended the premiere of their first film received "Oscars".

Applause greeted the teenage cast and crew of Off The Rails when they arrived at the New Victoria Centre, in Howden le Wear, in a white limousine.

Family, friends and supporters of the Jackass Theatre Group attended the first showing of the group's film - in black and white and with no sound track.

Inspired by the work of Buster Keaton and Mack Sennet, 14 members of Jackass produced the comic melodrama with the support of Jack Drum Arts.

Off The Rails tells the story of Peggy, a vicar's daughter, and her two admirers - Reggie, the kind local butcher, and Arnold, the mean greengrocer.

The suitors compete to be Peggy's beau, but when she chooses Reggie over Arnold he hijacks a steam train and ties Peggy to the tracks to ensure that if he cannot have her, then no one will.

After the screening, which was accompanied with live Wurlitzer organ music by Joe Marsh, of the North East Theatre Organ Association, there was an "Oscars" ceremony to reward the youngsters.

Julie Ward, of Jack Drum Arts, said: "This is a top-quality film by very talented and dedicated young people, made possible by the support of our funders, parents and other volunteers."

The project was funded by the Film Council's First Light initiative, Northern Arts, Wear Valley Arts and Investing in Children.