FOR A-level students across Worcestershire and Herefordshire, yesterday was a day of drama, relief, tears and excitement.

Years of hard work finally paid off, giving Britain's schools and colleges the highest pass rate after the 22nd consecutive year of improving results.

Inevitably, politicians have claimed it was because A-levels have become easier. Some demanded reforms - for example, encouraging universities to set further admissions tests, or preventing students from re-sitting individual A-level units to strengthen their grade.

But Worcester's own MP Mike Foster - a former teacher - has urged experts to put an end to the "constant barrage" of criticism of young people and their teachers

"They should congratulate students not criticise the exam system for improved results," he said yesterday.

Evening News reporters spent the day speaking to students and teachers and recording their reactions as the results were finally announced.

n Simon Aldsbury, Portsmouth

"I'm really, really chuffed. I was nervous when I woke this morning, but I got the grades I needed to study ergonomics at Loughborough. I got a D in AS level history last year, but I turned it around and got an A. It was my best result."

n Michael Murray, Stourport

"The teachers here are really good, They are probably the reason the grades are so good. I don't know what the exams were like 20 years ago, but I wouldn't want them to be any harder than they were this year - we were really tested. I'm taking a gap year before I go to Durham working for a research company to get experience."

n Caroline Jones, Inkberrow

"I didn't get the grades I needed. I've been trying to get through to the university to see if they will still take me."

n Lucy Drewitt, Stourport

"A-levels put a lot of pressure on you, and there is no let-up after GCSEs. I think they go some way to challenging A-level critics."

n Chris Taylor, Warndon

"I think there is more pressure to perform - teachers are given targets and they pass the responsibility on to us. That is the reason A-level results are improving - they're not getting easier! I got what I needed, but I had to put the work in. Now I am going to get very drunk somewhere."

n Liz Hatton, Stourport

"I completely disagree that A levels are getting easier. I took Law, Product Design and Sociology for A Level and got Bs, which isn't good enough to do law. Now I have to retake the year. I would prefer it if there was more coursework and a bit of time to relax after GCSEs - but there is no let-up because of AS levels."

n Aidan Moss, Worcester.

"I had to really put the work in. Anyone who doubts their difficulty should sit the exam and see if they feel the same after. I have been trying to put the thought of today out of my mind - I had done all that I possibly could anyway."

n Laura Hobbs, Stourport

"I'm so shocked. I got As in Geology and Chemistry and a B in German. I thought I might get an A in Geology but nothing this good. I'm now going to Bristol University to study geology."

n Stacey Brassington, Malvern

"I've got three As at AS-Level in ICT, Textiles, and Graphics and a C in English Literature. I was hoping for anything like that. I'm not going to go to university, though - I'm going to do Hair and Beauty at Malvern College."

n Tom Squires, Worcester

"I was pleased with two Bs in Geography and Computing and a C in Maths, but frustrated to discover I was only eight marks off a B in Maths and close to As in the others."

n Nicola Shore, Bromsgrove

"I got an A in Psychology which I thought I had failed! I also got Bs in ICT and Law. I'm extremely surprised! I've got a job interview straight after this as well. I've been in hospital for three days with a viral infection in my foot and I'm on tablets so I can't really go out and celebrate. Maybe people who say

A-levels are getting easier should sit them themselves."

n Rob Algar, Bromsgrove

"I've got two As in Law and Business and a B in PE I was not expecting this at all, but I was hoping to do well. I can now do Marketing at Northumbria University - I only needed an A and two Bs! If you pick the wrong subjects it can be really hard, but re-sits really help. I took a retake in Law and I went from a C last year to an A this year!"

n Mary Hughes, Pershore

"I'm very happy. This is good news - I thought I'd get a U! I got a B in Media Studies, C in English Literature, and a D in Performance Studies - I'm a bit disappointed with that result, but I can go on to the next year."

n Tom Wall, St John's, Worcester.

"I'm quite pleased. I got a B in Business and two Ds in English Literature and PE. I needed to get two passes to complete my training. I'm training to be an accountant."

n Emily Leadbeater, Malvern

"I was chuffed to bits with my results - three Bs in Law, Media Studies, and English. I was retaking my A-levels to get into Southampton University to study Public Relations, which I did."