Maria Michael was on top of the world yesterday after one of her works was voted the north's most popular piece of student art work.

The York student was named as the winner of the Bar Culture award at a ceremony in the city's Slug and Lettuce pub.

The presentation was the culmination of an awards scheme launched last November by the pub chain and York St John College.

Students were asked to create a piece of fine art, with a shortlist drawn up in January by a panel of judges.

The top ten pieces were exhibited in bars in York, Nottingham and Harrogate over the past three months and people voted for their favourite in the Slug and Lettuce bars and on the website www.slugandlettuce.co.uk

Maria, who wins a cash prize, a trophy and a reproduction of her work, will also appear on selected printed material in the pub chain.