WORCESTER Operatic and Dramatic Society Youth Section's (WODYS) staging of Half a Sixpence has been named the best youth production in West Worcestershire in 2011.

The group's win was announced at the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) West Midlands awards ceremony at Sutton Coldfield town hall.

The news followed the decision by NODA president Geraldine Branton, who saw last summer's show, to award the group the 2011 President's Award for outstanding performance in a youth society production.

Youth section chairman and director David Humphries and choreographer Rachel Price headed the production team behind WODYS' success but Mr Humphries said everyone involved took the credit.

He said: ''Rachel and I get great enjoyment and satisfaction working with the youngsters.

“While I feel very honoured by this award, I would emphasise that this success is as much down to the talented cast and the small army of backstage workers and those who help out at the weekly rehearsals as it is to us.''

This was another important award for WODYS, whose programme for Oklahoma! was judged best quality entry in the West Midlands region in 2009.

WODYS is staging Me and My Girl at the Swan Theatre between Tuesday, July 31 and Saturday, August 4.

Tickets are available from the Worcester Live box office at Huntingdon Hall in CrownGate Shopping Centre or by calling 01905 611427.