TRAVEL agent Melissa Fuller has gone far since leaving high school.

Melissa, 20, went straight from the classroom at Mount Carmel High, Oswaldtwistle, four years ago to the offices of the Lunn Poly travel shop in Accrington.

Melissa was promoted to assistant manager at the shop at the beginning of the year and now she is celebrating picking up the company's regional personality of the year award.

Melissa, of Oswaldtwistle, beat off competition from staff at Lunn Poly's other 20 travel agencies in the North West to pick up a special certificate and a bottle of champagne to celebrate her success.

"I love travelling and I really enjoy dealing with customers and everything involved in the job," she said.

"When they rang me to tell me I was really excited.

"I didn't know what to say.

"There are so many good staff I didn't really think I had a chance.

"The award came as a huge surprise to me and it's a fantastic feeling knowing that both my colleagues and customers consider me worthy enough for such an award."

Melissa is a self-confessed sun fanatic.

Her best holiday was a break in Zante in June and, given the choice of a holiday anywhere in the world, she would pick Mauritius or the Bahamas.

Melissa was nominated by her manager Alison Grimshaw, who submitted an application on her behalf. The application covered various aspects of Melissa's work including effort, customer service and sales. She also had to show a passion for travel and a lively and dynamic personality.

Picture: Melissa celebrates picking up her company's regional personality of the year award.