An art student whose entire final year work was destroyed when the car in which it was kept was stolen and burnt out has salvaged her degree by exhibiting the Ford Fiesta's shell.

Marian Downes cut up the car and has displayed fragments of her original work as the centrepiece of a degree show at Sunderland University.

The 22-year-old lost her work when her sister Amy's car was stolen in Hendon, Sunderland, last month.

Ms Downes, whose original theme was insomnia, said: ''I have not slept for weeks now.

''I was completely devastated. You work towards your degree for four years, and then it all literally goes up in smoke.''

She thought she would not be able to complete the course, but met with tutors to salvage her work.

Ms Downes said: "In a way I think the car thieves did me a favour. I don't know if anybody would have been interested otherwise."

Ms Downes, whose work goes on show along with that of other Fine Arts students at the university tomorrow, must now wait to find out how she has done in her BA (hons) degree.

She hopes to go on to study for an MA at Chelsea School of Art.