STUDENTS at a Worcester college have spent a week honing their combat skills so they can peform realistic fight scenes for stage and screen.

During last week's half-term holiday, 12 students and two lecturers from the performing arts department of Worcester College of Technology took part in a stage combat course in the college theatre.

Master at arms Mike Bower, a member of the British Academy of Dramatic Combat, taught them unarmed combat, point work and sword and dagger combat.

After a week of intensive training the students took their Basic Certificate in Stage Combat exam, which involved a five-minute performance of acting and fight scene, and a combat workshop run by the external examiner.

Lecturer Paul Bellamy said: "The performing arts department has always produced performers able to hold their own in acting, singing and dancing because our courses are practical rather than theoretical.

"Being able to say that they have a basic stage combat qualification makes our students more employable in this very competitive industry.

"We'll hopefully have some exciting fight scenes to perform during our next open evening on Thursday, April 27."