THE wait was finally over for bright sparks in Droitwich Spa when they picked up their GCSE results.

Two years of studying paid off for students at the town's two schools, with many passing their exams with flying colours.

Students at Whitford Hall and Dodderhill School did exceptionally well in last Thursday's results.

The 12 girls who took their exams at the Crutch Lane school all achieved at least five A* to C grades and 39.5 per cent of the grades were A* or As, which is a considerable improvement on last year's results.

Headteacher Joan Mumby said: "I am very proud of all of our girls who all did so well in their exams. They do work really hard and deserve their success."

Students at Droitwich Spa High School were celebrating as they also did very well.

The overall pass rate this year was 98.3 per cent , four per cent up on last year's results, and over half of the 263 GCSE students got at least five A* to C grades.

One student who was all smiles was Christopher Berry, who got straight As, with eight A*.

The Fernhill Heath resident plans to stay on at the Briar Mill school's sixth form to study maths, further maths, physics and geography.

The delighted youngster said: "I'm really pleased with my results. I'd like to think I'd worked hard for them."

Happy Felicity Keefe, of Corbett Street, fought against the odds to get her GCSEs. She discovered she was suffering from ME weeks before the exams began and was hospitalised just a week before the first test.

But, with a lot of hard work and determination, she sat her exams and amazingly achieved an A, five Bs, four Cs and a D.

"I am so happy with my results," said Felicity.

"I was told that I should not take my exams because of my ME but I wanted to take them with all of my friends.

"I really didn't know how I'd done but I am so pleased.

"I plan to stay on at sixth form now to study geography, health and social and sociology."

The school's headteacher Cledwyn-Davies said: "I am absolutely delighted with this year's results. We were set very high targets as we had to get 57 per cent of our students getting at least five A* to C grades and we achieved 56.6 per cent, so I am very happy with that.

"The students' success is down to hard work and determination and they really deserve the very good grades that they achieved."