ROSSENDALE Players' actor Daniel Starkie took the top accolade for Best Actor at the Greater Manchester Drama Federation annual awards on Saturday.

The event at the Last Drop Hotel in Bolton was attended by hundreds of members of theatre groups from the area and beyond.

In his review of 23-year-old Daniel’s performance as Private Jim Smith in Early One Morning, adjudicator David Carlile said: "It was a commanding performance which left the audience reeling in its intensity and focus. This was strong, powerful acting which stirs emotions in an audience. Daniel took this role and with excellent skills brought out all the nuances and torment needed. Hats off to you. A super stirring performance."

Stanley Whittaker, director of Early One Morning expressed his great pride in Daniel’s "well deserved" award. "The whole society is proud of Daniel's great achievement. Anyone who saw his performance at the head of such a remarkable cast could not fail to be impressed by the talent of this young man."

Dawn Rowe, from Bacup, was nominated as Best Supporting Actress for her comic role as the wide-eyed and naive Aunty Vera in the society's production of Willy Russell's 70s comedy Breezeblock Park.