ECSTATIC students from across the region have celebrated an excellent set of A-level results.

Pass rates close to 100 per cent were recorded at all three exam centres in North Lincolnshire, with many students achieving multiple A* grades, the highest available.

After sitting the exams earlier in the summer, the candidates faced the nervous wait to receive their grades, but for most it was all smiles as their university places were confirmed.

Among those celebrating at the town's John Leggott College yesterday were twins Carl and Niall Bootland, both 18, from Scunthorpe.

Both scooped four A* grades in chemistry, maths, further maths and physics and Carl will now move on to study maths at Oxford University, with his brother heading to Cambridge, also to study maths.

Carl said: "I am feeling ecstatic. It is a pleasant surprise but not totally surprising. The exams were okay, not too bad.

"College has been really good and a really enjoyable experience."

Niall added: "I am feeling fantastic, thrilled.

"I am going to Cambridge to study mathematics.

"We went there on an open day and I just liked the feel of the place.

"The exams were fine really.

"I had to do two extra entry exams specifically for Cambridge and they were really tough, so there was a little bit of doubt there."

Robert Spencer, 18, of Kirton in Lindsey, is also looking forward to starting at Oxford after getting his A-level results yesterday.

He said: "I have got four As, in maths, English, economics and law.

"There was a bit of doubt because the exams were sort-of hard and I got a B in English at AS Level, so I am really pleased to have got that up a bit.

"I am going to Oxford to do law and I am very happy."

As reported, John Leggott College recorded an overall pass rate of 98 per cent, with 72 per cent of those passes at grades A* to C.

The college's acting principal, Ian Yems, said: "Yet again, the students have really pulled out the stops.

"We are particularly pleased with the A*s, which is a new venture this year.

"There are 10 students who have ended up with four A* grades and one student with five A*s.

"It is not just about the very bright students though.

"When you look down at the average GCSE scores from two years ago, there are a number who got low GCSEs that have come out with excellent A-levels."

The college's executive principal, Nic Dakin, was overseeing his last set of results before leaving his position at the end of the month to concentrate on his new role as MP for Scunthorpe.

He said: "I am very proud of the students and staff.

"The results are very good but I am concerned to make sure that those students who have done less well than they had hoped for have got proper support over the next few days to get as positive an outcome as possible."

Jubilant students and staff at Baysgarth School's sixth form were also celebrating brilliant results and successful university applications.

Headteacher Colin Saywell said the year was the school's "best ever", with 97 per cent of pupils passing exams and 68 per cent achieving A* to C grades.

Mr Saywell said he was "very proud" of the year group, only a few of whom failed to do as well as expected.

He said: "We've done much better than last year. The year group has exceeded expectations and at the moment it's looking like we've had our best results ever. We have a cracking set of kids and it's a really positive picture. We're delighted for the youngsters and their families. The results are a testament to their hard work.

"Nothing stands still in education and I think results are so strong this year partly because we've learned to be more anticipatory and to plan better."

The delighted headteacher said despite mostly positive news, provisions had been made for those who did not get their grades, with staff, a careers advisor and computers on hand.

One of the top performing pupils was Catherine Dukes, who managed to scoop two A* grades in maths and an A in IT despite being two years younger than most A-level pupils.

Catherine, 16, said: "I feel fine about my results, I'm quite happy.

"I'm going to John Leggott next year to study sciences, although I don't know what I'd like to do with them yet.

"I've taken GCSEs as well this year so I get my results from those next week."

Student Adam Blakey, 18, was another success story. He is set for a career as a trainee coach for Tottenham Hotspur after getting a coaching qualification and D grades in English and drama.

He said: "I didn't originally plan to go to university, but I'll be able to study alongside the position as a trainee coach as it's got links with Tottenham University. I have a second interview to do, but it should all be okay and I'll start in October."

Brigg Sixth Form College also had a bumper year for results, with a 99 per cent pass rate achieved by its 41 candidates and 68 per cent recording A* to C grades.

James Morris, 18, of Bonby, scored an A* in ICT, an A in media studies, a B in business studies and a C in general studies.

He will now take up a place at the University of Lincoln.

James said: "I found the exams quite hard because I had to go through and resit ICT modules quite a few times. I am now off to Lincoln to do computer information systems.

"That will hopefully get me to working in industry, alongside other businesses, creating systems, internet pages and things like that."

Will Theakston, 18, of Bigby, is set for a place studying international business, finance and economics in Manchester. He said: "I got an A* in maths, an A in further maths, a C in physics and I got an A in business studies last year.

"I was a bit nervous but I came in and got these results and it is pretty good.

"I just hope to be an investment banker one day."

Sixth form director, Nick Grafton, said: "I am very pleased. Not only have the students done well, they have made progress in terms of us adding value to their education."