"INSPIRATIONAL" Katie-Lee Lingard had more reason than most for celebrating her GCSE results.

For the brave Blackburn pupil has put a life-threatening brain tumour behind her to triumph in her exams.

A decade ago Katie-Lee was battling for her life, but the plucky pupil completed a remarkable transformation picking up some impressive GCSE results.

Today the modest 16-year-old insisted she "just got on with it" but her family and school staff dubbed her "an example to us all", revealing how the student was so determined to become a teacher she took an extra geography GCSE in her own time after school.

In 1996 Katie-Lee, of St George's Avenue, was diagnosed as having a "serious" brain tumour, leaving her terrified mum, Joanne, fearing for her eldest daughter's life.

But the pupil of Witton Park High School battled against the odds and recovered from a delicate brain operation which could have left her paralysed or blind.

After fluid was discovered blocking the brain, Katie-Lee had to undergo an emergency operation followed by a second operation to remove the tumour.

Her pituitary gland was removed as part of the operation meaning the teenager has to take daily doses of medication to help her growth and digestive system - which sometimes means she has to miss school.

Although the tiny remaining part of the tumour is under control, she also has to have check ups and occasional brain scans to monitor her progress.

But ever since the operation the youngster has refused to be downbeat or dwell on her plight and yesterday she picked up 11 GCSEs at C or above including three Bs, an A in technology and a B grade in GNVQ in information technology - worth four GCSEs.

However the star-pupil is uncomfortable with the heroine tag.

"I just get on with it really. I want to become a primary school teacher and because I thought I might need both history and geography to get the job I did geography in my own time after school around two nights a week, I got a C in the end so I suppose I did rather well. I have always wanted to be a teacher, I'm not sure why but I suppose it's because like working and helping children. Sometimes I have been ill but have just caught up and it's been no problem, you just take every day as it comes."

Leading the praises, proud mum Joanne, 33 said: "I am so proud of her. She has been through such a lot and has to take medication every day but she never asks for sympathy. She is an inspiration. We are going to have party for her on Friday night."

Her gran, Eileen Zemenides added: "She has gone through hell but never moans and not complained once and is an example of what young people can be all about. When you think what she has gone through it makes me so proud, she has done so well."

And her teachers believe she has all the attributes to follow in their footsteps and carve out a great career in education.

Gwen Onyon, acting head at Witton, said: "She has done remarkably well to overcome her difficulties she was faced with when she joined the school. The fact she did a geography GCSE in her own time proves just how determined she was and I think she will make a superb teacher - I have no doubt at all due to her stickability, her pleasant demeanour and determination."

As part of her quest to become a teacher Katie-Lee will now take a Btec childcare diploma at Blackburn College.