People with learning disabilities finished a week-long theatre project in Edgware with a grand finale performance in a pilot scheme run set up by the council.

The 20 people who signed up to the scheme at Flash Musicals Youth Theatre in Methuen Road, using cash from their personal social care budgets, spent the week learning about how behind-the-scenes lighting and costume design works with budding young actors.

Harrow Council’s portfolio holder for adult social care, Councillor Margaret Davine said the idea was “an excellent example” of how to include people with learning disabilities in the community.

The theatre opened in 2005 to offer children from low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds a chance to get involved in drama.

The borough has been at the cutting edge of the new way of providing services through personal budgets, and was the first in the country to use an Amazon-style online market place, called shop4support, which has won an award.