YOUNGSTERS in a community drama group are celebrating after earning recognition as Investors in Children.

Officers at Willington Youth Theatre say the accolade is a reward for three years of hard work setting up the group, which has 17 members, and staging regular performances. It meets in Sunnybrow Methodist Chapel and is rehearsing for a Christmas show Megan and the Golden Key, following the success of a summer production, the Fourth Princess.

The youngsters are taught lighting and other backstage techniques and have sessions on stage makeup and costumes. Treasurer Christina Jackson said the project raised the children's self esteem. She said: "It has given them a huge amount of confidence and taught them new skills."

She said they had just lowered the intake age to seven because younger children wanted to join.