AN ambitious Alcestrian joined the ranks of royalty for the presentation of her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

The ceremony was also attended by Linford Christie and other sporting and TV celebrities.

Lucy currently studies psychology at Lancaster University. The 19-year-old started her Duke of Edinburgh award by completing her Bronze and Silver levels at Alcester High School Technology College.

She then went on to do her Gold award at Alcester Grammar School where she went on a World Challenge Expedition to Namibia for a month.

She said her group spent a week building a special playground with new netball and football pitches and painting murals on the walls at the Witkop Primary School, near Rehoboth.

"We did our gold expedition in Fish River Canyon, in South Namibia, where we walked more than 50 miles in five days," she said.

"It was a magical experience, just us in the middle of Africa, totally self sufficient and coping with a complete new world - it really did build everyone's self confidence and we certainly learnt to get on with everybody."

She said receiving her award from the Duke of Edinburgh was a really proud moment and made her realise what a special achievement it was.

Another former Alcester Grammar School pupil Neil Claxton, who is currently studying medicine at Manchester University, also picked up his gold award.