YOUNGSTERS at a south Essex drama school are celebrating winning a heap of trophies and medals at the Leigh Musical festival.

The Masters Perfmorming Arts College’s haul of two trophies and nine medals is even more remarkable, as it the first time the school has entered the prestigious competition.

Masters, based at Rayleigh Weir, won a cup for the group mime, while pupils took the top three places in the first-timers’ singing class.

Masters youngsters also took the top two places in in the original poems class – in which entrants had to write a verse and then perform it – and second in the duo mime.

Students also won the group acting improvisation classes in both the 12 and under and 15 and over age groups.

School head Wendy Headford said: “We we did brilliantly. We are really pleased.”