FIVE Lytham students are celebrating after winning the first places of the new year at England's top two universities.

The students, who attend King Edward VII and Queen Mary School, are overjoyed after discovering the news that they are bound for the country's most respected academic institutions.

Katherine Duxbury and Alison Broadfield have been classmates since they first met at Heyhouses Junior School in St Annes. They have each won a place to study natural sciences at Cambridge.

Alexander Fletcher, from Wrea Green, is due to follow in his brother's footsteps when he goes to St Catherine's College in Cambridge to read mathematics.

Claire Oakley, who lives in Elswick near Preston, is to study Natural Sciences. Finally, modern linguist Thomas Pritchett from Kennington, Preston, is the seventh pupil in as many years to go from Queen Mary School to Keble College, Oxford.

Displaying immense pride in his pupil's achievements, Julian Wilde, Principal for the school, said: "To win a place at Oxford or Cambridge you need to combine flair with a great level of hard work.

"This quintet have built on very pleasing GCSE results and I am delighted that they have been offered places. It is a top class personal achievement by each and every one of them."

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