A GIFTED mum has reached the last dozen in the nationwide search to find out who is top of the class in adult learning.

Carolyn Stott, of Robertshaw Street in Leigh has been nominated for the prestigious Adult Learner of the Year Award.

The 34 year-old mother of two is studying occupational therapy at the Worsley campus of Salford College, and has also been nominated for a bursary which could pay for her forthcoming degree course at Salford University.

Single parent Carolyn was taken by surprise when she received an unexpected phone call from the BBC who informed her she had been nominated for the prestigious award representing Leigh and Wigan in the final.

She said: "I got this award because I am doing well on my course and it is only recently that I found out I have dyslexia. This achievement gives my daughter the incentive to do well because she has learning difficulties. It doesn't matter if a person has got problems with learning as they can be overcome, you can still achieve."

Carolyn has two daughters, Michaela, 11 and Ashlyn,12.