A PROFOUNDLY deaf student has received an award for success in her studies.

Sandra Dunn, 18, from Chester-le-Street, has been presented with the award by Newcastle College in recognition of her dedication to her NVQ level 2 beauty therapy course and for overcoming difficult circumstances.

She was the first person in her year to successfully complete the NVQ level 2 information technology (IT) course, before progressing to the beauty therapy course then moving on to level 3.

Speaking through Julia Carr, her support worker at the college, Sandra said: "Doing the IT course for a year was great because it really helped me with my English, but beauty therapy is what I'm really interested in.