THREE Blackburn students are celebrating the fruits of their hard work after being offered places at the country's top universities.

St Wilfrid's CE High School pupils Nicholas Evans, 17, and 18-year-old Ben Holland, will go to St Catherine's College, Cambridge, in October.

Gillian Birch, 18, a former St Wilfrid's pupil, will go to St Hilda's College, Oxford.

Nicholas, 17, is head boy at St Wilfrid's and lives with his parents and three sisters at Mellor Brook.

He is studying biology, chemistry and maths at A-Level and will read medicine at university.

He eventually hopes to qualify as a surgeon and wants to join the famous University Rowing Club while at Cambridge.

Deputy head boy Ben, 18, is studying history, English and French at A-Level and will read social and political sciences at Cambridge.

While at university he hopes to get involved with both student journalism and politics.

Gillian, 18, who lives in Blackburn is currently on a gap year in Africa. She will read experimental psychology at Oxford.

David Whyte, headteacher at St Wilfrid's, said: "I am delighted that our tradition of securing places at Oxford and Cambridge has been continued by these three outstanding students.

"All at St Wilfrid's are extremely proud of what they have achieved."