A record number of students at Colchester Sixth Form College have been offered places at the top universities in the country.

Opportunities to study at Oxford and Cambridge colleges have been offered to 17 students on condition they achieve the right grades at A-level. And three more are still waiting to see if they have been successful.

Teachers and tutors believe it is the highest number of offers made to any school or college in the country this year. Each one had to undergo a strenuous testing and interviewing procedure.

Those hoping to make the grade for Oxford are Charles Bibby of Tollesbury and Joe Eden of High woods, Colchester and Laura McCoy, of Ipswich.

The hopefuls for Cambridge are Peter Campton, of Tollesbury, Gillian Copping, of West Bergholt, Rosie Eade of Ardleigh, Antony Evans of Feering, Martha Goyder, of Ipswich, Caroline Halls, of Braintree, Laura Jennings of Aldham, Ben Lowing of Alresford, Daniel Sherer, Elena Stoyanova Kate Jarman and Alison Walters all from Colchester, Helen Taylor of Little Horkesley and Jennifer Whitten, of Stanway.

Ian MacNaughton, college principal, said he was absolutely delighted by the news.

"It is a great credit to the hard work and abilities of each of the students concerned and provides them with outstanding academic opportunities in the future.

"They clearly made very positive impressions upon interview and in the tests they were given," he added. He also praised staff involved in helping to prepare the pupils for their interviews.

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