A student, who has been described as an inspiration to others, has won a top award for her determination.

Sara Hibbits scooped the Student of the Year Award at Shipley College where she is studying a BTEC First Award in childcare.

The 19-year-old, who was born with spina bifida - a defective spine or vertebrae - and has been in a wheelchair all her life, has undergone 19 operations to treat her incurable condition.

And she was given the special accolade for the fact she continued her course despite having to undergo a serious operation to remove a cyst, which was initially next to her brain, from the top of her spine.

But a headscan revealed the cyst is still there and has moved down towards her neck and Sara, of Five Lane Ends, Bradford, will have to undergo surgery again in January.

"I've had a lot of operations and I'm willing to have another one as it will prevent me from becoming paralysed for up to ten to 15 years," she said.

"If I don't have it I could be paralysed from the neck down in two years."

Sara, who plans to go to the University of Bradford to do a teaching degree after her course ends in June, said she was "on cloud nine" when she heard about her award.

"It's fantastic and I'm pleased people think so highly of me," she said. "It was a big surprise and I'm really chuffed."

Sara plans to eventually teach at a special school or nursery.

Denise Bridge, one of Sara's tutors, said she was a pleasure to teach.

"She's had a lot of health issues but she's been a committed, enthusiastic and hard-working student and has worked under extreme difficulties."

l David Passmore won the college's Richard Cope Memorial Award for skipping a year after completing an ICT Foundation Course and moving up to do an Advanced Vocational Certificate in ICT. He now helps computer staff and fellow students.

Shazana Akhtar, Philip Gibbon, Victoria Jackson and Paul Cook shared the College Governors award for their work in designing and writing a booklet about how young people can seek education and training advice. It will be launched in January 2004.

Siobhan Johnson, who is now studying business computing at Leeds Metropolitan University, won the Bradford and District Aim Higher Award for her work on the college's e-mentoring programme and Going On scheme which encourages students to progress to university.