Two Bradford students will receive awards for their efforts in overcoming difficult circumstances.

Ramsarup Raju and Nasim Khan are two of five winners of the Adult Learners' Week Individual Award from 136 nominees across Yorkshire and Humberside.

Miss Khan, 23, moved to Bradford when personal difficulties forced her to leave her parents house in Stoke-on-Trent.

She decided to take a Youth Support Worker training programme, and now works with young inner-city people, giving talks on crime prevention, homelessness, and drugs and health awareness.

"I would tell other people that learning gives them the chance to broaden their career choices", said Miss Khan, who also works as a volunteer at Faathie Youth Centre in Manningham, Bradford, and eventually hopes to join the police force.

"It's always something I wanted to do but it wasn't until I took my crime prevention course at the police station itself that my view about them became positive."

Salima Hafejee, of Bradford Youth Development Partnership, nominated her after seeing how she coped with problems.

"She is an inspiration to other young people who may face difficulties in their life - she is building a future that is secure, and where she can be of help to others."

Mr Raju could barely speak English when he lost his job at textile company Hield Bros Ltd two years ago, but knowing he needed skills to find another job, the 47 year-old father-of-three went to Bradford College to start learning.

After progressing through the achievement tests in numeracy and English, he gained significant passes in his City & Guilds stages 1-3, and is now taking a pre-GCSE English course and GCSE Maths.

"I want to gain a good education, decent job and career," he said.

"My idea of a good job is one where I am doing something worthwhile and valuable."

He was nominated by John Brook, the head of mathematics at the college, who said Mr Raju had become an ambassador for the institution.

The regional awards ceremony will be held in Harrogate on May 9.

The winners will also attend an awards ceremony in London alongside 45 national winners on May 12.