A Newton Aycliffe student who defied the odds when she was given a five per cent chance of survival before she was born has celebrated picking up her GCSE results today.

Rose Foster, who studied at Greenfield Community College in Newton Aycliffe, has secured top grades.

Before she was born, at a 12-week scan, Rose was diagnosed with life-threatening prenatal conditions and her mum, Louise Flanagan, was advised to terminate.

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But Louise ignored the advice and gave birth to Rose at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Now, 16 years on, Rose has achieved top marks in her exams - and will now go on to study politics, media studies and English literature at A-Level.

Louise, from Newton Aycliffe, said: "I am so proud. To be told she only had a five per cent chance of survival, and to see her today is just wonderful.

"Coming to Greenfield has been such a positive experience for Rose, she really doesn't want to leave, she loves it here. But it has given her the platform to go on and succeed."

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Rose, who attends Greenfield Community College in Newton Aycliffe, Durham, said: “I put in so many hours, shutting the bedroom door and mum has spent a fortune on packs of revision cards and it has paid off.

“I am really happy because I don’t think I was expecting to do this well. Now I can’t wait to enrol at the college.

“I know it was a tough pregnancy for my mum, but she made the right decision. I am so happy to have done so well.”