LUKE Bryan, who was left paralysed from the neck down at the age of 17 following an accident while playing rugby, has beaten all the odds to pass his AS Level Maths through Carmel College.

And it couldn't have come at a better time for courageous Luke, who plans to celebrate his 21st birthday next month.

Luke, from Clipsley Lane, Haydock, was injured in a freak rugby tackle in 1996 which left him facing the rest of his life in a wheelchair and years of treatment in hospital. But his spirit never broke and when he returned home from the spinal injuries unit of Southport Hospital in September 1998, he was determined to continue his studies.

Proud mum, Christine told the Star: "He was doing maths and sciences at Carmel College before the accident and started up his maths studies again almost immediately when he came back home. He did have a few lessons in the college but most of his work was done through John and Cath, their home tutors who were absolutely marvellous with him.

"When it came to the exam, he had to speak his answers and an adjudicator wrote them down for him. He really put a lot of effort into it and ended up with a C grade which we are all over the moon about. I would particularly like to thank Peter Rushton, the head at Carmel who bent over backwards to support Luke and even delivered his results in person."

Luke is now looking into the possibility of beginning an information technology course at Carmel but is having a well-earned rest at the moment in preparation for his forthcoming 21st birthday celebration in September.

Christine added: "We are going to hold a big party for him at Haydock Conservative Club with all his friends and relatives. He has worked so hard to get where he is now that he really deserves to sit back and celebrate his achievements."