DRAMA students from the Marlborough Academy of Dance and Drama (MAD) were recently awarded with the coveted Mark Flitton Trophy and were described as "outstanding" at the Royal Wootton Bassett Arts Festival.

The group of 14 students devised and performed an eight-minute play for the festival to show the plight of orphaned Syrian refugees and won their class at the recent arts festival.

The play follows the story of seven children who are forced to leave Aleppo in Syria after their homes and school were destroyed in an explosion. It follows the terrifying bombing, their exhausting and frightening journey and one girl's determination to find a place in school when they arrive at an overcrowded refugee camp.

The talented youngsters were Toby Kearney, Nancy Whitehouse, Archie Fisher, Martha Duncan-Zaleski, Megan Goddard, Isabelle Harley, Ellie Potter, Katie McCormick, Rachel Cooper, Lottie Quick, Anna Shellswell, Emily Giles, Tai Hopkins and Holly Mackay.

Rachel also won a trophy at the festival for her monologue and Martha and Tai won their class for their duologue.

The students' piece was inspired by a poem by children's writer Nicola Davies called The Day the War Came. The poem was written in response to a news article earlier this year about a refugee child being turned away from school because there wasn't a chair for her.

Through their play, the students, aged between 12 and 15, wanted to illustrate the plight of these refugee children, and to show that they are no different to themselves. All children should have access to a decent, loving home and an education.

Cheryl Heuston, who runs MAD in Marlborough said: "It was a very mature and inspirational piece of drama. The audience were moved to tears as these remarkable students told the story of seven refugee orphans and their determination to finish their education so they could return to Syria and help solve the problems. I couldn't be more proud of them."