STUDYING for A-levels can be stressful for most people but 18-year-old Alison Bargh has also had to cope with the devastating effects of foot and mouth disease.

Despite having the trauma of seeing her family's livelihood destroyed, the teenager stayed focused and yesterday was rewarded with four A grades in biology, geography, chemistry and general studies.

Half way through her exams in June, her family, who live at Hopwood Farm, Bracewell, discovered their dairy cattle had contracted the disease and all 301 had to be slaughtered.

As her mum and dad, Georgina and Robert, were left to deal with the consequences, Alison went to stay with her aunt and uncle in Barnoldswick.

The Skipton Girls' High School pupil said: "It was very difficult trying to concentrate on revising but my auntie and uncle were fantastic and very supportive. They gave me a room where I could study and it was such a lovely atmosphere, which really helped.

"I could see the farm's fields from the window but not the farm buildings so I just didn't look out a lot.

"I always had them in my mind and what they were going through. You can't really describe how you feel when all that work goes down the pan.

"We were all relying on my results for some good news and I am over the moon. I was quietly confident because I knew I had worked really hard for them but I was still really anxious."

Even when her exams were over, Alison had to continue revising for her step exam to qualify for Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

She passed with flying colours, receiving the highest grade, and will study natural sciences.

Her mum Georgina said: "Foot and mouth hit the Ribble Valley on May 19 and we could see it creeping slowly towards us as Alison was doing her swotting.

"She had done her first papers in the first week in June and was due to to do her second lot of exams the following week. On June 8, Robert was milking and noticed one of the cows had a temperature.

"He then saw a blister in her mouth and that night Alison went to stay with her auntie and uncle.

"At least being there she was away from it. Her bedroom looks right out on the farm and she wouldn't have been able to concentrate.

"We talked to her on the phone every day but she had everything to face when she had finished her exams and came back.

"When she woke up on the Saturday morning she said she could usually hear the milking machine but this time she couldn't. She was upset and still had to keep focused for her step exam.

"We are really proud of her and don't know how she did it. It's a credit to her. I heard her talking to someone and she said 'when we were taken out by foot and mouth I kept going for my parents, which is really nice."

Georgina and Robert plan to have a celebration with Alison, her two younger brothers and other friends and family once she has completes her Duke of Edinburgh Gold award next month.