A BATLEY amateur dramatics group has beaten off competition from more than 2,000 others across the country to carry off the award for best programme.
Batley Amateur Thespians became the first Yorkshire group to win the National Operatic and Dramatic Association accolade since 1997.
They entered the programme for last year's Christmas show, Half A Sixpence.
The programme was created by BAT members Chris Sheard and Charles Townend, who travelled to Hereford for the presentation at the Association's annual general meeting.
Chris said: "We were told that we had come either first or second, but they wouldn't tell us which until the AGM, so it was quite nerve racking.
"When we found out we had won we were delighted."
Chris added that the programme, which was made to commemorate the society's 90th anniversary, could not have been produced without a donation of £500 towards the printing costs from Redbrick Mill's Stephen Battye.
The group is now gearing up for its next production, Christmas Cracker, which will be performed in Dewsbury Town Hall from Monday November 29 until Saturday December 4.
It will feature singing and dancing from many old favourites, including Copacobana, Richard Rogers, The Carpenters, Bert Bacharach, 42nd Street and the Bee Gees.
Topped off with festive favourites and comedy, tickets for the show cost between £2 and £7.50.
They are available on 0113 253 4434 every day from 10am to 7pm.
