RISING stars Youth Club played a concert at South Essex College thanking students for their help in the Village Green festival.

The Southend band, which will be joining Beth Orton, Eddie Reader and Scroobius Pip at Metal’s sixth Village Green festival on July 12, performed a gig produced by students in the atrium of the Southend campus on Thursday.

As well as thanking the students for their volunteering last year, the concert kicked off the renewed partnership between the arts group and the college for this year’s festival.

Sean McLoughlin, Village Green festival director, said: “We are delighted this partnership is going from strength to strength. A number of students who volunteered at Village Green have been able to work alongside professionals in the production arena and have consequently not only gone on to work with them at larger events, but have also gained employment in the field.”

This year, the college will have its own stage at the festival, showcasing emerging community arts in dance, theatre and music.

For tickets to the festival, priced £10 for adults and £5 for 11-17 year olds, visit www.metalculture.

com or call the Skiddle ticket sales hotline on 0844 844292, between 9am and 6pm Monday to Friday and 10am and 5pm, on Saturdays.