TWO Okehampton College students who were recipients of £250 bursaries from the Chagford Arts Festival have used their awards to create an emotionally charged drama on homelessness and a comic short animation film. Both were showcased at the town's recent arts festival.

Lark Ash Wheeler, 15, directed the powerful drama 'Street Talk', which gave a glimpse into the lives of homeless young people.

The piece was performed by Okehampton College pupils from Chagford and was inspired by a visit to Bristol to view street art. The visitors had been shocked at the numbers of young people living on the streets in the city.

'Street Talk' attracted an audience of more than 100, many of whom were moved to tears by the depiction of the frustrations, altercations and hopelessness.

Diggory North, the second bursary recipient, worked in a lighter vein to produce an eight-minute animated film 'The Heist', using Lego figures and cars to create a witty and professional caper. His 5,000-frame animation was completed in a mere four weeks. It is the second film that the Okehampton pupil has produced.

The Young People's Awards were designed to help those between 13 and 25 to develop their own ideas.

The projects were supported by mentors with relevant professional experience, but the initial ideas were all the students' own and involved a great number of local young people in the productions.

A third bursary was awarded to Chagford-born Bella Cummins, to produce a novel which will be available at the end of July, entitled 'I guess that's the problem with being caught up in something you don't know or even care about'.

An initial chapter of the novel was available to the public in cafés, pubs and restaurants during the arts festival.

Chagford Parish Councillor Terry Bleakman was impressed by the fruits of the bursary scheme: 'There's no doubt that there is immeasurable talent among this generation and the results of these awards show how the tender buds of talent can be developed with support of our community.'