A COLLEGE has named its new head girl as a 17-year-old from Newton le Willows, near Bedale.

Helen Johnson said she was delighted, but completely shocked, to be appointed the 113th head girl at Harrogate Ladies' College.

She is a full boarder at the college and has lived on the school campus for eight years.

As head girl, she will lead a team which includes a deputy, a head of Tower Boarding House, and six prefects.

She said her aim was to help her team and the school's 315 pupils to work together.

She said. "We're good at working together and that brings energy into the school. I also see my role as being a bridge from the students to the staff."

Helen is planning a charity parachute jump for her 18th birthday next April and hopes to secure a place at Lancaster, or King's College, London, to read religious studies.