THREE teenagers are celebrating after scooping prestigious university scholarship awards.

Eighteen-year-olds Robin Cross, Emily Starkie and Eleanor Shaw will all receive financial help when they start at the University of Aberystwyth in September.

And there will be no anxious wait for their A-level results either.

The trio, who all live in Beardwood, have just completed their A levels at St Wilfrid’s CE High School and Technology College in Blackburn, where they sat an exam set by the university.

All three passed and were given unconditional offers as well as cash boosts to help pay tuition fees.

Biologist Eleanor and Emily, who will study international politics, will receive £1,000 merit awards next year, and Robin, who will study French and Spanish, was awarded a scholarship which means he will be given £1,000 every year of his degree.

Robin, from Hartwood Close, said: “It was great that we all passed the test.

“I was surprised to get the scholarship because it was quite a difficult test, harder than an A level exam.

“Aberystwyth was my first choice of university anyway, and it did take some of the pressure off us, knowing that we would get into uni no matter what results we got!”

His mum Jill spoke of her pride at Robin’s achievement, particularly as she, Robin and his younger brother Jeremy, 10, were rocked by the sudden death of her husband Peter three years ago.

Mrs Cross, who works at Royal Blackburn Hospital, said: “Robin has worked hard throughout and the schol-arship will really help, this is a pretty special achievement.”

“It’s great news for all three of them.”

Liz Lawton, sixth form teacher at the Duckworth Street school, said: “We have been really successful with the scheme at Aberystwyth for the last four or five years.

“A number of our students have benefited from it.

“It helps broaden students’ horizons, giving them the option of going to university farther away.”