A-level student Paul Walsh was today celebrating a whopping success.

After five years serving up fast food at Burger King restaurants he has won a place at Oxford University.

The 24-year-old, of Horton Bank Top, quit his job two years ago to return to education.

And today the decision paid off handsomely as he found out he had gained three A grades from his studies at Bradford College.

The results mean he can swap French fries for a French linguistics degree at Worcester College, Oxford.

The wait was also over for hundreds of A-level students across Bradford as they discovered if they had got the grades needed to get them into their first choice universities.

Mr Walsh said finding out he had claimed his place at Oxford was a "dream come true".

He said: "When I started college I didn't expect to go Oxford but having been offered a place it is an amazing achievement in the two years.

"It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get myself back on track and into a career that I really want to do."

Mr Walsh gained A grades in French, business and accounting.

He will study French linguistics during a four-year course which includes a year living in France.

Mr Walsh quit his A-level studies at Bradford Grammar School seven years ago aged 17, after becoming disillusioned with studying.

At the time he was working part-time in Burger King in Broadway, Bradford, and he decided to pursue that as a full-time job.

He said: "I knew I had messed up my A-levels, but I thought I'm not going to be a complete failure' so when it was I suggested I become a supervisor I thought I would give it a go."

He rose through the ranks to deputy manager of one of the group's restaurants in Scarborough.

Despite his success, he said he remained unfulfilled and two years ago he decided to go back into education.

He said: "Two years ago I bumped into someone on holiday in France who I used to go to school with who had just finished university and he was telling me how well he was doing.

"I spent the rest of the holiday thinking I must go back to college.

"When I got back home I enrolled at Bradford College."

Since then he has not looked back and now he is urging others to follow in his footsteps.

He said: "It was a big challenge to swallow my pride and take two backward steps to go forward.

"When I took the plunge and quit a full time job it was a big step for me, it was a risk, but I think it is going to pay off."

After graduating, Mr Walsh said he hoped to work in a career which combined his two main interests: French and aviation.

Staff at Bradford College have paid tribute to his achievements.

His French tutor, Veronique Leygue, said: "From day one we knew Paul was capable of achieving great results as he was fully committed to his studies. He wanted to turn over a new leaf and exploit his potential to the full.

  • Catch the A-level results round-up in tomorrow's T&A, and the A-level results supplement in next Tuesday's T&A.
Students urged not to panic over results

A-level students who miss out on their expected grades today were being urged not to panic.

Many students will have lost places at their first choice universities, but help is at hand to allow them to decide what to do next.

Bradford College and Bradford University have both set up clearing hotlines on (01274) 433444 and 0800 0731225 respectively to allow students to find out what courses are still available.

Bradford College is also hosting a Clearing Information Day on Saturday, from 10am to 3pm at the Westbrook Building in Great Horton Road.

The Connexions Centres in Bradford and Keighley will also be offering advice to visitors. Bradford Conne-xions Centre will run a session on Saturday from 10am to 4pm and again on Saturday, September 2, for students who are still not fixed up with places at university.

Dr Roger Ash, head of admission's Bradford University said: "A-level results day and clearing can be a daunting time, especially if you've suffered a disappointment with grades.

"Ringing up universities for a place through clearing might be the last thing you feel like doing.

"It is important to stay calm. Thousands of other students will be in the same position and universities deal with the process of clearing every year."

The UCAS clearing system allows students to find out what courses are available across the country.