Two former Ilkley Grammar School students have earned their way into Cambridge and Oxford Universities.

The brother and sister duo from Westview in Ilkley won places at the universities this summer and will pack up their bags and head for the prestigious learning establishments when the new year starts later this month.

Rebecca Brown, 18, who has recently completed her A-levels with A grades in maths, chemistry and biology will be studying Veterinary Science at Cambridge University's Downing College.

Her 22-year-old brother, Matthew Brown, will be doing research, funded by the Medical Research Council, on the causes of Parkinson's Disease at Lincoln College at Oxford. This follows four years at Nottingham University, which gave him an undergraduate master's degree in neuroscience this summer.

The students' father, Chris Brown, says he is proud of and surprised by both his children for earning such high honours.

"It's tremendously exciting," the 57-year-old says. "It's surprising because you don't always think of your own children as being necessarily capable of that sort of thing. We are extremely proud as you can imagine."

Rebecca, who is hoping to become a veterinarian specialising in horses, is a keen horse rider in her spare time with a special interest in eventing. She has represented Bramham Moor Pony Club in dressage competitions and has ridden regularly at Ilkley and District Riding Association events.

Matthew played badminton regularly at grammar school and was a representative in the sport for the Bradford and West Yorkshire district. He also played for Nottingham University where he captained the men's second team. The university graduate wants to pursue a career in science writing, and has already had a number of articles published in a student magazine.

l Local GCSE results: Pages 10, 11 and 12