NERVOUS expectation turned to disappointment for 25 students when their music GCSE grades failed to materialise.

Celebrations were put on hold as exam board OCR apologised to pupils at Carmel RC Technology College, Darlington, for the delay.

The mix-up centred on course work which had gone missing - the school having proof that it had been posted, but the exam board not receiving it.

It is hoped the students will receive their grades today, based on the school's grading of course work.

Headteacher James O'Neill said: "The pupils were disappointed, as we were as a college.

"It's unfortunate as you expect to get all the results through. We don't know whether it's the fault of the Post Office or the exam board. We've taken all the students' telephone numbers and will contact them as soon as we get them."

It is the third set of exam delays to hit the region.

A-level student Lyndsay Angus had to wait five days to discover she had scored an A in her English language exam.

Pupils at Wolsingham School and Community College had to wait four days for their RE A-level results.

A spokeswoman for OCR said: "There has been a problem because we haven't been able to moderate it. But the results should be with the students as soon as possible. We apologise to them for any delay."