LANCASHIRE students have been named among the brightest in the country when it comes to sitting their A-levels.

The county's A-level students -- including those in Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale -- polled the 10th highest average points score for A-levels in the Government's league tables.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service -- which helps match potential university students up with suitable courses -- converts A-level grades into points.

An A-grade A-level is worth 120 points, while an E-grade is worth 40 points. Grades for AS-levels, the half A-levels students can sit, carry half the points of the full one.

According to the league tables -- which are branded worthless by colleges because they don't compare like with like -- Lancashire students average 292 points each, the 10th highest score.

Successes which attributed to that score included Runshaw College, where the average point score per pupil was 314.9.

That is the equivalent of roughly two Bs and and A.

At the other end of the scale, Accrington and Rossendale College was named among the lowest-achieving for A-levels. The college has already announced it is ditching A-levels to focus on vocational qualifications.

In Blackburn with Darwen, the average points score was 233.1, roughly the same as three C grades.

Both Westholme School and Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Blackburn were named among the country's top 200 for A-level points score.