MORE than 400 people gathered at East Bridgwater Community School to enjoy an entertaining evening of celebration.

Current students and last year's leavers were present at the annual presentation evening, where over 70 students returned with their parents to receive their GCSE certificates.

Prizes were handed out for excellence in vocational and academic areas and in the fields of art, sport and technology.

The ceremony was especially important for the school as it celebrated its best exam results ever, with 42 students achieving one or more GSCE passes at A*-C.

The school welcomed chief executive of Sedgemoor District Council, Kerry Rickards, and Doug Robson, president of the Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Committee, who both gave words of encouragement to the students and presented certificates and prizes.

To end the evening, the East Bridgwater Community School dancers performed their dance piece The Calling fresh on the back of their recent performance at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the 2008 Schools Proms.