HUNDREDS of people enjoyed an evening of music, dance and awards as a college celebrated one of itsmost successful years.

An awards night was staged at Darlington Civic Theatre as scores of Darlington College students were officially recognised for their endeavours.

The audience of friends, family and dignitaries, including chairman of the college board Alasdair MacConachie, former principal Sarah Robinson and Darlington Mayor Jim Ruck, were treated to a show of music, dance and song.

Ms Robinson said: "The outstanding Ofsted report we received earlier this year was the latest chapter in a wonderful, on-going success story for Darlington College and I'm quite certain that this will continue.

"This evening's ceremony is proof of the outstanding work that goes on day in and day out at the college and I offer my warmest congratulations to all of our winners."

The evening was hosted by BBC presenters Wendy Gibson and Richard Thomas and began with a tribute to Ashleigh Hall, the Darlington College student found dead last month.

A variety of dignitaries and sponsors were then invited on stage to hand out awards to students studying courses ranging from catering, hair and beauty and media and journalism, to higher education and business management, construction, childcare, sport and outdoor education.

There were also awards for students studying at Darlington College, in Catterick, including a number of serving soldiers.

In between the awards the audience was entertained by ITsupport officer and concert pianist Dean Stockdale, singer HayleyMcKay, dancers from the Dance Wright Studio, and a catwalk display of hair and make-up with the theme of earth, wind, fire and water, by hairdressing and beauty therapy students.

The awards went to: Hairdressing and beauty therapy: Laura Allinson, Carly Wrangham, Lisa Seline, Shirin Daryaie, Elissa Ward, Jade Bale, Darerca Brown, Michelle Airton, Hannah Alderson, Roberta Chan, Hannah Colgrove, Elizabeth Cooke, Sky Cullen, Santanna Dawes, Holly Dennison, Chantelle Galliers, Rebecca Greasley, Yasmin Greathead, Amy Harrod, Chantelle Horner, Laura Mallows, Leanne Robinson, Bethany Rogers, Yasmin Tomkins, Abigail Wilkinson.

Journalism, Media, Art and Design: Lauren Jenkinson, Kirsty MacLagan, Paul Smith, Saabik Akhthar, Carl Wade, Harriet Anderson, Rosie Cooke.

Management and higher education: Mike Ferguson, Sarah Jones, Patrick McKeown, Brett Russell, Richard Bremner, Sheila Gray, Ben Kelsey, Steven Rohan, Sharon Quincey, Maria Koska, Juliete Besa, Lynda Waddell, Louise Warner, Helen Armstrong, Alison Dickson, Shirley Place, Nigel Grey, Sally Donaghue, Carol Cooke.

Computing and business administration: Nigel Glasper, Andrew Seymour, Stephen Weston, James Armstrong, Claire Atherton, Richard Jackson, Antony Lyle, David McMorris, Carl Rutter, Sian Sunley, Charlotte Wiper.

Childcare, health and social care: Hayley Dennington, Amy Mullen, Alice Thwaite, Catherine Close, Heather MacPherson, Samantha Metcalfe, Lindsey Alderson, Sarah Birkett, Alexandra Brown, Alexandra Fewell, Michelle Guy, Amanda Harper-Briggs, Caroline Hilton, Rochelle Naylor, Emily Pickard, Kiran Singh, Katie Taylor.

Hospitality and catering: Kelly Ann Smith, Tyson Robinson, Matthew Whitelock, Daniel Parker, Chris Nevison, Craig Murfitt, Amy Olding, Ryan Hamlet, Ryan Mills, Caroline Fox, Louise Robinson, John Muigana, Laura Kelly.

Sports and uniformed services: Margareta Szymczak, Duncan Mills, Luke Crang, Aidan Gaddass, Owen Pallister, Catherine Brown, David Pearson, Hannah Spooner.

Construction: Simon Hainsworth, Tom Haithwaite, Joe Fletcher, Ryan Turbutt, Christopher Kitchen, Sam Turner, James McFadyen, Andrew McNicholas, Thomas Tennant, Janette Powell, Andrea Spanner, Neil Buddin, Richard Harper, Sharon Penman.

Engineering and motor vehicles: Michael Catmull, Jordan Nutter, Michael Nicholson, Gareth Wilson, Peter Dawson, Andrew Chisholm, Kristopher Irving, David Hodgson, Melvin Moss, Kevin Taylor, Nicholas Winfield, Michael Brend.

Pathways and life skills: Ashleigh Richardson, Ruth Shukla, Burchim Ayata, Joshua Simpson, Steven Simpson, Robert Simpson, Dean Mulholland, David Groves, Luke Parsons, Gavin Norwood, Julie Triska, Brenda Barrett, Emma Hunter, Jonathan Baker, Neal Dixon, Laura Kaye, Dave McCormick, Ben McCormick.

Apprenticeships: Shaun Errington, Jeet Bahadur Sahi, Leander Somers, Paul Pollard, Darren Smedley, Adam Bainbridge, Gary Sowerby, Anthony Dinsdale, David Groves, Peter Myers.

Darlington College at Catterick: Jai Ale, Sunita Gurung, Buddha Lawati, Warrant Officer Nathan Stares, Corporal David Boxwell, Guardsman Harold Sinkins, Private Akim Anderson, Private Charl Coetzer and Private Paul Dodds, and representatives from Guards Training Company, Gurkha Company, Kings Division, Queens Division, Parachute Company, Prince of Wales Division, Rifles Division and Scots Division.

Overall 16 to 19 Learner of the Year: Heather MacPherson.

Overall 19-plus Learner of the Year: Ben Kelsey.