A Stroud drama group has been given a special award recognising a series of excellent productions last year..

The Cotswold Players, who perform at the Cotswold Playhouse on Parliament Street, have been given a National Operatic and Dramatic Society (NODA) Achievement Award.

Most of the district achievement awards are given out for a specific performance but the group has been recognised for 'Every Production in 2018'.

The award was presented to the group's chairman, Patrick Howell, at a black-tie dinner in Plymouth last month.

It's citation read: "This Company achieves consistently high standards, but this year has totally excelled itself.

"Starting with a ‘who dunnit’, Murder on Cue, which was presented just after the Beast from the East, and the audience really empathised with the characters who were snowed in.

"They then moved on to a musical Guys and Dolls; then an absolutely amazing play Anne Boleyn and ending the year with a staged radio version of It’s a Wonderful Life held in a local church.

"Each production was well presented in every way, reflecting the wide range of talents within the company."

Their production of Anne Boleyn was also nominated for Best Drama and Best Technical production in the South West Region.

The Cotswold Players' next performance is Dial M for Murder, showing at the Playhouse from 13th–15th and 20th–22nd June. Tickets are available at ticketsource.co.uk/cotswoldplayhouse.