AN EAST Lancashire mum who took GCSE Italian to communicate better with her in-laws thinks life is "bellissimo" after achieving one of the best marks in the land.

And triumphant Susan Elaine Polvani, 37, joked that her success meant husband Mario, 38, would "no longer be able to swear in Italian!".

The mother-of-two, of Manchester Road, Baxenden, has spent the last three years studying Italian at Accrington and Rossendale College, culminating in a one-year GCSE.

Despite only embarking on the Italian job to engage better in conversation with her husband's aunts and uncles in the family's native Tuscany, the determined adult learner's September exam results were among the top five in the UK.

And the thrilled student said her success was proof that you are never too old to learn or, as they say in Italy, "E meglio studiare quando siete piu vecchi".

She said: "I couldn't believe it when I found out I had done so well. I couldn't stop crying!

"I was convinced I'd messed up the last question and told all my friends that I'd blown any chance of a decent mark.

"My husband's parents came over to live in East Lancashire from Italy in the 50s, but my husband still has a lot of aunts and uncles in Italy. I wanted a proper conversation, rather than just being able to order something in a shop and little else.

"My mother-in-law lives in Accrington and I was able to practice with her. She deliberately would only speak in Italian."

Susan's success is all the more remarkable as she has fitted in studying with her job as a repairs officer for the Accent group in Burnley, and a work-related two year HNC in business studies.

Now she hopes children, George, seven, and Bronte, five, will follow in her footsteps. "My husband is really proud of me, although it means he can no longer swear at me in Italian! He was born here, but is very proud of his Italian roots and we hope our children pick up as much of the language as possible."

Susan's results were among the best five of the 3,313 candidates who sat the exam nationally.