A STUDENT has left Newton Aycliffe for the US to do research work after graduating with a first-class honours degree at Cambridge University.

Suzanne McDermott, 21, from Tindale Green, gained 13 GCSEs and three A-Levels, all at A grades at St John's Comprehensive Schoo, in Bishop Auckland, and gained an award from the Royal Geographic Society.

After completing her studies in bio-chemistry, she has earned a place in the laboratories at Pennsylvania State University, in Philadelphia. She will be returning home in October and going back to Cambridge to complete a Masters degree, followed by a PhD. She eventually hopes to run her own laboratory.

Proud father James McDermott said: "We are all over the moon for her."