HARD work and perserverance has paid off for 12-year-old Gemma Collins.

Gemma, a pupil at Park High School, Colne, was presented with the Young Achiever of the Month award for her consistently good work and excellent progress in science lessons.

The Foulridge youngster has been spending breaks and lunchtimes in the science lab, preparing a wall display and setting up a nature table.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.