A STOCKTON sixth form student who keeps two dogs, two snakes and a chipmunk, has been offered a place at Cambridge university to train as a vet.

Stephen Gosling, aged 18, of Sedgefield, is delighted at the prospect of studying on the six-year veterinary medicine course.

He underwent a tough, day-long interview, and now needs to gain three grade As in biology, chemistry and physics A-levels.

"I love animals and want to put my scientific knowledge to good use," he said.

He has worked at the White Lion vets' practice in South Hetton for the past three years and said his parents, John and Louise, were "pretty chuffed" about the Cambridge offer.

Stephen attended Red House school, Norton; his 20-year-old brother, Andrew, is at Edinburgh university studying astrophysics. Four years ago, Stephen was selected to go to South Africa on a safari which was filmed for an ITV documentary.

"That experience gave me a taste for doing something interesting and out of the ordinary. Once I am qualified, I will be on the look-out for adventure," he said.

A keen rugby player with Stockton sixth form college and Darlington rugby club U-18s, Stephen also has a Duke of Edinburgh bronze award.

Stockton sixth form college principal Mr Howard Clarke said: "This is an outstanding achievement. Over many years of teaching, I have known only two or three students ever getting to Cambridge to study veterinary medicine.

"It is extremely hard to get on to any veterinary medicine course, and even more so at Cambridge."

One question remains: who will look after his pets?

"I presume my parents will," said Stephen, "though I haven't actually asked them yet. Sadly, students aren't allowed to take any pets to halls of residence - not even veterinary students.

"I suppose I'll miss Max the dog the most. The other one, Teddy, is totally lazy and just lounges around the house all day. My parents are both into dogs and my dad sort-of likes the snakes. He doesn't mind handling them, but my mother's not so keen."