STUDENT Emma Woods was going for gold when she travelled to London.

University student Emma, of Langdale Road, Feniscowles, Blackburn received her Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award in a ceremony at St James' Palace.

She participated in a wide ranging group of activities.

She took part in sports leadership in the community, played hockey, went on a mountain expedition in Cumbria and completed an outdoor education leadership course to take the glittering prize.

A spokesman for the Blackburn with Darwen Youth Service said: "Only 5,000 young people in the whole country get gold each year, so it is a pretty rare honour for Emma."