A LONGWELL Green actor is celebrating after winning his third award.

Joe Sims has won The People's Favourite Male Performance in the Off West End Theatre Awards.

Beating competition from 53 other actors the former Sir Bernard Lovell School pupil took the award for his portrayal of Lee Fenton in the play As We Forgive Them.

He said he was still in shock about his win.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would win," he said.

"The ceremony was just on Sunday night and I was given the award by Don Warrington from Rising Damp. I had no idea and it was a real exercise in humility.

"The room was full of such talent, artistic directors, actors, writers."

It is the third award Mr Sims has picked up for the same role.

The play tells the story of a new American president elected at the time a teacher arrives at a state penitentiary to give lessons to a convicted murderer.

Mr Sims said he had always wanted to act and was lucky to have found his calling.

He said: "I've worked really hard and am really lucky that people have supported my work.

"It was a risk for the Brewery, in Bristol, to put on the play but hopefully this has shown it is worth it. Without people taking risks and being creatively brave you lose the lifeblood of the theatre."

Mr Sims' next project is with David Tennant working on Romeo and Juliet for Radio 4. He then joins the BBC radio drama company.