EAST Lancashire's students are toasting record GCSE results, with schools across the county chalking up their best-ever performances.

In Blackburn with Darwen, results rose again, with 52 per cent of the borough's pupils gaining five or more GCSE grades at A*-C - a rise of almost five per cent on last year's 46.9per cent.

The results build on year-on-year improve-ments in the authority which only had a 36 per cent A to C pass rate in 1998.

However, the borough's youngsters are still performing below the national average, which again went up.

The overall pass rate in Blackburn with Darwen remained at 96.4per cent compared to the national pass rate at A* to G which rose by 0.3per cent to 98.1per cent.

But Coun Maureen Bateson, the council's executive member for children's services was pleased.

"Getting good GCSE results puts young people on a firm foundation for their future - whether they go on to take further academic or vocational qualifications, go into training or find work," she said.

GCSE pupils at Lancashire County Council schools, which includes those in Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Burnley and Pendle and Rossendale also had reason to celebrate, with many schools enjoying improved results.

Last year the schools beat the 56.3per cent national average at A* to C to achieve a 56.7 per cent pass rate and, although results have yet to be collated, education chiefs are hopeful of similar success.

Coun Alan Whittaker, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for education, said: "I want to say well done to all those who have put so much effort into their studies - we should all be very proud of them.

"The results are pleasing once again thanks to the hard work of the young people and the staff in our schools."

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School had its best-ever set of GCSE results, achieving a 98.4per cent pass rate at grades A* to C and 100per cent overall pass rate, which puts it among the best in the land.

All its students passed at least five subjects at A* to C and all but two students achieved at least five subjects including English and maths. The school also enjoyed a record average of 10.56 passes per pupil at A* to C grades.

Headmaster Marc Morris said: "The teamwork which is formed by pupils, teachers and parents working together has once again shown its worth. In all respects this was a record year."

At Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Black-burn, the overall pass rate at grades A* to C was 96.1per cent.

This compared with 94.2per cent in 2005 and more than half of the pupils achieved an A* or A grade.

QEGS headmaster Dr Hempsall branded the results "simply outstanding" and added: "It is particularly pleasing to see that all the girls who joined us in 2001, the first year that QEGS went fully co-educational, have performed splendidly alongside the boys and contributed fully to the school's success."

There was also delight at Westholme School, Blackburn, with its pupils mirroring last year's 98per cent pass rate at A* to C with 63per cent of all grades either A or A*.

But it wasn't only the grammar and independent schools that enjoyed improved results.

Towneley High School, Burnley, achieved record results with its pass rate at A* to C, rocketing from 36per cent last year to 42per cent this year.

It means the school has seen results increase 18per cent in the last three years and headteacher Sally Cryer dubbed the efforts "a fantastic achievement".

Students at Witton Park High School Business and Enterprise College, Blackburn, were praised for doing better than expected.

The Buncer Lane School was rocked when its headteacher Heather Jamison resigned amid a yet-to-be completed audit investigation at the end of last term.

But after seeing the A* to C pass rate match last year's 59per cent acting headteacher Gwen Onyon said the achievements were down to a "team effort" and added: "This particular year group has exceeded a 48per cent target and should be really proud of themselves."

Pleckgate High School, Mathematics and Computing College, Blackburn, also saw its GCSE pass rate at A* to C shoot up six per cent from 40 to 46 per cent.

The number of pupils getting five A* to C including English and maths also rose from 30 to 40per cent leaving headteacher Robin Campbell singing their praises.

He said: "These results are our best ever and mark a tremendous achievement across all ability ranges."