Thanet Percussion School has taken one of the top awards at the annual National Festival of Music for Youth in Birmingham.

The drummers were invited to perform among eight elite percussion ensembles from around the UK and won the award for the best overall composition.

The players have also been invited to the coveted Schools Prom at the Royal Albert Hall in London in November.

And on top of that they have been asked play at the TUC national conference at The Brighton Centre on September 9.

Technical excellence and imaginative and lively performances have earned the musicians plaudits wherever they have performed over the years, under musical director Molly Hollman, who co-ordinates classes which are held at Chatham House Grammar School in Ramsgate.

The community percussion school impressed judges and spectators with an updated reworking of their energetic and innovative piece Chairs, which is in the style of the world-renowned 'junk’ ensemble, Stomp.

They also won praise for another innovative work called Music In Detention which develops into a samba rhythm on hand drums after a sedate opening.

The community drumming groups were developed at Chatham House Grammar School, Ramsgate, through lottery funding.

They have previously appeared at the Music for Youth schools prom at the Royal Festival Hall in London, in an exhibition show at the Royal Albert Hall, and at the opening of the redeveloped Bullring centre in Birmingham.