Life can sometimes be hectic - but a group of students have proved you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it.

They are among hundreds who are celebrating achieving Open University degrees, which have allowed them to study while holding full-time jobs and leading their day-to-day lives.

In the four years it took Kenneth Steele, of Dorking Road, Clacton, to complete his engineering degree, life has changed in a major way.

"When I started out I did not have any children, so it really could be a stretch to try and get things done and to make time for studies.

"I am lucky because my wife is very supportive, and if I ever needed to just go and get on with things, she would allow me to do that," said Kenneth, 39, who is now dad to four-year-old Cian and Cabhan, seven months.

Kenneth, who works for London Underground, started his degree after responding to a plea for engineers from Railtrack, who he worked for at the time.

He is already studying for a masters degree.

Neville Edrich, whose job for Network Rail as a TRUST delay attributor sees him deciding what it is that have made services late, decided he needed a new challenge to keep his grey cells working, and decided to study to upgrade his HND to a full degree.

Mr Edrich, of Morten Road, Colchester, said doing the degree had "kept his brain active"

"And it is good because it gets you out and about and meeting people," said the 51-year-old, who was among hundreds who turned out for the East of England Region degree ceremony at Ely Cathedral on Saturday.

Carole-McEntee Taylor, 51, began studying for her Open University degree in 1990, but a difficult period in her personal life meant she only completed it properly over the last three years.

Having escaped an abusive relationship, Carole, who is now happily married to the Rev David McEntee-Taylor, and works at Colchester Garrison, has completed her MA in philosophy.

The mum-of-three, who lives in Tollesbury, said she found studying "quite addictive."

Divorce led Witham mum Julie Hayward back to her books after re-evaluating her life.

"I had to stop working with my job at Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford and discovered if I wanted to go back at the level I had been working I would have to get a degree," said Julie, 42.

"I started the Open University course. My children were two and four then, and they are now 11 and 13, but I am absolutely over the moon to get my degree."

Not least, because she was delighted to learn she had been awarded a first for her BA Honours humanities degree.

"I kept going on to the website, I couldn't believe it. No-one in my family has ever got a degree before, so my parents, my children and my best friend will be coming along to the ceremony. I can't wait," she said.

Julie, of Humber Road, now plans to become a student full-time as she is set to train to become a teacher in September, having taken on a part-time job at her children's school and falling in love with it.

Grandmother Pat Coldwell has just completed her third degree at the age of 65.

Pat, of Pole Barn Lane, Frinton, started her first course with the Open University in 1990, while she was working full-time as a nurse.

Six years later she gained a BA (Hons) in Humanities.

"I've always had an interest in the arts so it was nice to go into it on a deeper level," said Pat, a grandmother-of-five.

"But it was very hard work. I was working full-time at Colchester General Hospital as a night sister, and my youngest son was still in his teens.

"It was quite stressful getting the essays in on time, but some other students from the area and I set up a support group. We're still friends now."

Bitten by the academic bug, Pat enrolled on to a two-year, part-time Masters course shortly afterwards, gaining a qualification in Writing by Women from Essex University.

"After that I decided to do another BA with the Open University in literature, which I've just finished after five years" she said.

Pat explained why she began studying in later life.

"I'd been academic when I was younger, and won a scholarship to a grammar school," she said.

"But my father died when I was about to go to university, and I had a bit of a life change which led me into nursing. I don't regret it at all though."

Fellow mum-of-two Catherine Redfern is also now considering becoming a teacher after achieving a BA Hons in Business Studies.

Mrs Redfern, of Crofters Walk, Braintree, said she hoped to inspire other busy parents to fulfil their studying potential.

"If I can do it with my busy life then anyone can," she said.

"I literally took my books into hospital with me when I gave birth to my daughter, because I had an essay that had to be done."

Also celebrating is Dave Peck, from Colchester, who having taken up a degree to keep his brain active, decided he enjoyed it so much that he gave up his well-paid job, and company car, to change profession and go into primary school teaching.