Youngsters with learning difficulties have created their own Christmas song and video.

Christmas Harmony, by members of the Square Pegs Drama Club, was uploaded onto YouTube on Friday, December 12 and has gained over 1,000 views.

It is the culmination of two months hard work by the group’s members, who are aged between seven and 25.

Beth James, director of the club, said: “We are really, really proud of them.

“They all have their difficulties, some of them could barely speak when they joined us and to achieve this is something they should be incredibly proud of.

“It’s been an incredible effort and they are all so talented.”

Work on the project started two months ago with a visit to the Ashton Lodge Care Home in St Michael’s Road, Maidstone.

During their visit the youngsters spoke with the residents, some of whom are over 100, about what Christmas means to them and how celebrations have changed over the years.

Inspired by thtrip, the group’s members then created the lyrics for the song.

It was then recorded over the course of a day at the Emeline Studios in Whitstable.

A special studio was set up at Bower Grove School, in Fant Lane, to film the video and about nine recording sessions took place to put the video together.

They also filmed at the care home before it was specially screened at the The Gulbenkian Cinema, at the University of Kent’s campus in Canterbury on Saturday.

Terry Hollands, who is currently the UK’s strongest man and has taken part in the world’s strongest man nine times, was the guest of honour.

The drama club was founded in Maidstone in 2006.

It now has three groups running in the county town and these are for young people aged seven to 18. A fourth, for people aged 16-25, runs in Canterbury.

For more information visit: www.squarepegsdramaclub.com/

To view the video visit www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone.