YOUNG actors will soon be able to make themselves heard, thanks to a National Lottery grant to pay for microphones.

The Children's Amateur Theatre in Shildon, known as Cats, was set up earlier this year.

Since then it has proved such a hit that 40 stage-struck youngsters between eight and 15 meet each week to act out drama ranging from scenes from Only Fools and Horses to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The group, which meets at Sunnydale School, has been given a £3,000 Awards for All National Lottery grant to equip the group with a public address system and microphones.

The youngsters have embarked on a number of fund-raising initiatives, but the grant bonus will give the group a much-needed boost.

The equipment will be especially useful for the group's Christmas production, run in conjunction with the choir at Sunnydale School.

Derrick Robinson, who helps to run the group, said: "The award will help us immensely.

"The idea is to use Cats as a way to give young people confidence. They are from a variety of backgrounds and work very well together as a team.

"We encourage them to use their own imagination to create stories and are on hand to help them with the writing.

"It also assists with their education as well, because so many skills are being learned by them."

The young performers, from Shildon, Bishop Auckland and Newton Aycliffe, learn all aspects of theatre, from stage positions to writing plays. They also manage the group through a management committee.

Anyone who wants to join Cats can contact Mr Robinson (01388) 774838