EAST Lancashire was again home to some startling student success stories, with high flying pupils achieving some of the best A-level results in the land.

Top performers included 18-year-old Laura Griffiths from St Mary's College, Blackburn.

The Blackburn teenager gained not only four grade As, in history, law, English language and literature and classical civilisation, but also gained a distinction (the highest mark possible) after completing an advanced extension award (AEA) in English.

Four other students at the Shear Brow college gained four grade As at A-level and 16 students achieved three straight As.

Blackburn College's high flyers included 18-year-olds Tanzeel Hussain and Christopher Kearns.

Tanzeel, of Downham Street, Blackburn, achieved three straight As in advanced maths, biology and chemistry and an A at As level in maths and will use his grades to embark on a dentistry degree at the University of Birmingham.

And Christopher, of Ighten Road, Burnley, got two As in English literature and language and psychology and two Bs in RE and performing arts.

Top performances at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn, included Danielle Ormandy and Feroz Zafar.

Both participants of the Ogden Trust Science Scholarship scheme achieved the results they needed to secure a place at their first-choice university. Daniel, of Oak Close, Rishton, got three As in biology, maths and chemistry and a B in general studies and will study medicine at St Andrew's, Fife.

And after achieving an A in biology and chemistry and a B in psychology Feroz, of Curlew Close, Blackburn will read medicine at Manchester University.

Exceptional individual results included those of Nelson and Colne College student Rachel Greenwood.

The 18-year-old from Ballgrove Drive, Colne, not only got four As in English language, media, maths and sociology but a B in general studies and a merit after completing an advanced extension award (AEA)in English.

The AEAs are only taken by a small percentage of students in the country and are for those with exceptional ability.

She said: "I am really delighted. I was hopeful I would get a few As but not four and I am in shock."

She will now take a degree in English at Cardiff University.

Fellow student Annie Lloyd from Lenches Road, Colne, was another celebrating and will take a sociology and politics degree at Manchester University after gaining three As in media, sociology and English literature and a B in general studies.

Blackburn's Westholme School again achieved a 100 per cent pass rate with 21 students at the Meins Road school achieving three A grades or more.

Naomi Fleming from Clitheroe, Catriona Jones, from Mellor, and Clare Kane from Barton, Preston - all 18, were jumping for joy after each achieved As in five subjects.