A STUDENT who only spoke Yiddish as he grew up will go to one of the country's most prestigious universities.

Ben Richardson, 21, left behind his orthodox Jewish family and community to pursue his education.

Mr Richardson has been recognised with the Darlington Adult Learners Award and a regional Adult Learning Award.

He is expected to gain A grades in A-level economics, German, maths and physics at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, in Darlington, He has been offered a place at Cambridge University to read economics.

Mr Richardson was brought up in London and studied at Jewish schools, where only Yiddish and Hebrew were spoken.

Just before his 18th birthday, Mr Richardson broke away from his community after moving to Gateshead.

He survived on savings and benefits and joined adult numeracy, literacy and computing classes before getting a job as a customer service advisor with BT. He took a distance learning GCSE level course and joined Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College.

Assistant principal Anita Blackburn said: "Although a little older than most mainstream students, Ben has fitted in well and proved adept at combining his studies with 20 hours' weekly paid employment at a call centre. While Ben has been able to maintain contact with his family and friends in London, he has had to work hard to improve difficult relationships.

"Thus he has had to develop a remarkable amount of independence at a very young age."

Mr Richardson, who lives in Thornaby, said: "For me, adult learning is important for giving me a chance to study and have the same opportunities as anyone else, despite the fact that I came from a different background and am older than most students. I couldn't have done it without the support of all my tutors at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College. I am very grateful to them."