POULTON teenager Laura Drury certainly went the extra mile for her work placement -- all the way to Gibraltar!

The high-flying 15-year-old, who's aiming for an RAF career, spent two exciting weeks on The Rock discovering what life is like for forces officers stationed there.

"I was working with all the armed forces. I was doing something different each day," explained Laura, on work experience from Hodgson High School Technology College, Poulton.

She was shown around many of the area's installations -- including air traffic control towers and medical, catering and administration centres -- and also spent time with the Royal Gibraltar Regiment.

Wearing a special pass, Laura was escorted round bases and witnessed first hand the high level of security. "It was quite intimidating -- but it was quite exciting to learn and see for myself how tight they are being with security measures," she said.

Laura arranged the placement herself by contacting the airbase headquarters and enlisting the help of officers, including her uncle, an army captain.

To get to Gibraltar she flew with her parents to Malaga, then they drove the rest of the way. While Laura completed her placement her proud parents toured Gibraltar, 'seeing the sites'.

"They thought it was wonderful because I had the initiative to have the idea and go and find out about it. It's opened my eyes to what I'd like to do when I'm older and how to achieve that," Laura said.

The would-be pilot and navigator said she wants to stay on for her A Levels and eventually take a degree course.

And Laura -- who enjoys karate, swimming, athletics and hockey in her spare time -- has already got her sites set on an RAF run life-saving course next May, to add to her CV.

Hodgson's Bill Allison said Laura's placement was a first for the school. "We are used to people coming back to school reunions from here, there and everywhere telling us what great careers they have got, but it is very different and exciting to be sending out a pupil on a placement like this."