KIRSTY CHANDLER is still on cloud nine after she collected an award from her former North-East college for doing what she loves best.

The singer swapped sun, sand and sea views to be at the annual ceremony hosted by Darlington College of Technology.

The 21-year-old travelled hundreds of miles, from the Costa Blanca, in Spain, to join students picking up awards for a host of subjects.

And she even got the chance to entertain the crowd by taking centre stage to perform the Abba classic The Winner Takes It All after she collected her award for best singer in performing arts.

Miss Chandler completed a BTEC national diploma in performing arts at the college earlier this year.

Since then, she has found success in Spain singing in clubs, bars and restaurants and is in the process of forming a band.

She said: "It is really good fun and a great way to see the world.

"Spain is great, but when I heard I could perform at the college awards ceremony, I was happy to jump straight on a plane home."

The ceremony, which celebrates the efforts of students and staff, was held at Darlington Civic Theatre on Monday night.

Awards were presented for high achievement in vocational qualifications such as construction, sport, media, beauty and engineering.

Awards were also presented to those who had excelled after they overcame obstacles.

A literacy prize was awarded to a student who has had a life-long struggle with words.

Faye Anderson was 26 when she returned to college to improve her spelling - only to be diagnosed with dyslexia.

Miss Anderson, 30, said: "I had always wished to be better at reading and writing.

"I used to hide my work, tell people I wrote in code or that I had forgotten my glasses.

"But until I came to Darlington College and was tested. I did not realise I was dyslexic."

After studying at Darlington College, she not only achieved level 1 and 2 in English and numeracy, but also secured a B grade in her English GCSE.

In recognition of her work, she was awarded the adult learner award in literacy.

Students from the college's campus in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, were also included in the hon- ours.

The evening was sponsored by Shepherd Construction, the company behind the new £34.5m college in the town's Haughton Road