ABOUT 500 top performing students enjoyed their moment of glory at Blackburn College, when they received their higher education awards.

A ceremony at the college's campus in Feilden Street, saw students from across East Lancashire and universities linked to the college, including Hull, Lancaster, Glamorgan and the University of Central Lancashire, carry home their awards. Some had achieved their results despite personal battles, while others had been named some of the top performers in the country.

There was a bumper crop of passes this year, with 170 programmes achieving a 100 per cent pass rate, above the national average of 92.2 per cent for A-level students.

Notable achievements included A-level geography student Mark Smith, who got one of the five highest marks in the country, and profoundly deaf Naweed Anwar, who worked his way from foundation level to advanced level in art and design.

Principal Sheena Ewing, said: "The achievements include outstanding examination successes at all levels, including some first class degrees, improvement in facilities and greater numbers of students joining our programmes."

Visitors to the awards heard that the year had been one of upheaval and achievement, with the college restructuring into nine curriculum centres instead of four main facilities.

The changes meant the sixth form college could be developed and community studies could be expanded to include a new outreach team.