An original Pewsey Vale Amateur Dramatics Youth Society play is proving to be a hit.

Call to Duty was written and directed by Nettie Powell and tells the story of Sam, a teenager whose life turns into a nightmare after his Call of Duty game becomes real warfare.

Ms Powell said: “I wanted to write a play for PVADS to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War but I realised that to the youngsters today, the stories of the Great War are just distant history and hold little emotional relevance.

“I needed to find a way to bring to life these brave soldiers who fought for us and so the ideas for the play Call to Duty formed.”

The youth theatre represented Wiltshire in the Five Counties Youth Drama Festival and came out on top.

During the Mercia Division of the All England Theatre Festival quarter finals, the play won best technical production, best director and overall winners.

The group also scooped five awards at the Harold Joliffe Festival in Swindon for directing, dramatic endeavour, originality in technical theatre, best youth play and overall runners-up.

Five Counties Festival organiser Philip de Granville said: “No weak links at all, remarkably, for such a wide range of ages. Like everyone else I spoke to afterwards, I felt we had witnessed something very special – beautifully written, directed with great theatrical intelligence, and extremely well acted.”

The group is focusing on the All England semi finals in Teignmouth on May 24.

Ms Powell said: “All the trophies reflect the fantastic team work in technical theatre, acting and directing.”