A SCHOOL production of Les Miserables has beaten off competition from adult drama societies to win two prestigious regional awards.

The musical, performed last March by Southend High School for Boys, won Best Musical of 2007 and Best Overall Production at the National Operatic and Dramatic Association awards for south Essex.

It means the school is in line to win the Smart Cup for the East of England.

Mark Valencia, head of drama at the school, said: "As Les Mis was entirely an in-house school production we are very proud of our achievement not the least because it was our first year as members of the association and therefore our very first eligible production.

"More than 60 actors and musicians took part, all of them pupils at the school, and they rehearsed four times a week for a period of six months in order to bring this enormous show to the stage.

"It is an amazing honour for a school drama production to be singled out in this way.

"We have beaten all ages and plays that are serious and pantomimes so it's an extraordinary thing."

The production included pupils from all ages and also girls from the school's sixth form.

Mr Valencia, who was director of the musical, will be going to collect the two awards at an association's awards ceremony in Norwich on April 19 It will be announced at that ceremony if the school has been successful in winning the Smart Cup.