A COMMUNITY-funded theatre scooped a hat-trick of awards at the Cricklade Drama Festival.

The Woolstore Theatre in Codford, near Warminster, won the best production award at the festival last week with Ritual for Dolls.

The play was director Mary Jones' debut production.

The theatre also finished runner-up in the best technical production category.

Marilyn Latcham and Alec Knott, who starred in the production, both came second in the best actors section.

The theatre's chairman, Karen Johnstone, described the play as the story of sexual repression and racial prejudice in a Victorian household, told through the eyes of four discarded toys.

She said: "It is thought-provoking and sad, but with a vein of humour and totally gripping, leaving the audience waiting to see how it all comes out. It is a super achievement.

"Mary really did have an uphill struggle to get the play going and get the casting right. The cast all thoroughly enjoyed themselves, it came over extremely well. My golly, she must have been delighted."