Drama pupils from Bushey have won a number of awards at an annual festival.

The Bushey Academy drama department entered several categories in the 66th Bushey and South West Hertfordshire Drama Festival, including improvisation, mime and a senior play.

Lower-school pupils entered a gentle comedy mime called 'Groundforce' while older dramatists performed 'Bury it and be done', a fragmented installation piece based on the artwork of Jenny Holzer.

Head of drama James Wride said: “This is the first time that we have entered the competition since Bushey Hall School closed and the The Bushey Academy opened.

“The pupils continue to prove that the academy is a centre of excellence for drama.”

The pupils were competing against other nearby schools and youth groups at the festival at the Pump House, in Local Board Road.

These included the County Youth Theatre, a group for drama enthusiasts based at the Watford Palace Theatre.

'Groundforce', directed by drama teacher Molly Finn, saw the pupils dressed in gnome's hats and beards, expressing their antics when the gardener disappears.

The sequence won Best Mime and came runner-up in Best Costume/Sound/Make-up.

Lauren Baulch also won Best Junior Girl for her performance and Ms Finn was praised in the judges report for her direction.

Sixth form drama and theatre studies students Dawn Maidment, Bekki Upton, Priyanka Sharma, Lauren Pike, Seamus Williams, and Matthew Wallington later performed 'Bury it and be done'.

Their multimedia production saw them take home Best Costume/Sound/Make-up, Best Bushey Senior Play, Runner-up Adjudicators Award and Runner-up Overall Best Play.

Matthew also took home an individual award for his performance, claiming Runner-up Best Senior Boy.