A STUDENT with learning difficulties has triumphed to win a top business award.

Dawn Austin, 22, who studied at Warford's David Lewis Centre, beat thousands of others to win the most 'Improved Young Person in South East Cheshire' in the North West Team Enterprise Scheme.

She also received the Sir John Moore gold award for the North West Team Individual Achievement.

Jim Bisset, chief executive at David Lewis Centre, said afterwards he was 'extremely proud' of his star student.

The prize was the culmination of two years hard work for Dawn, who enrolled at David Lewis College with severe behavioural problems.

She has now graduated and has made such a remarkable improvement that she will be allowed to live on her own.

Mr Bissett said: "Without blowing our own trumpet, I would say that Dawn is one of our greatest success stories.

"When she arrived nobody ever expected she would be able to live by herself. She was very difficult to communicate with and suffered from severe behavioural problems, sometimes violent.

"When I asked her what she was going to spend her prize money on she said she was saving it for her own flat. Her two years here have given her a real sense of purpose."

The David Lewis College has been running for six years and specialises in teaching life and social skills to young people affected by epilepsy.

As part of this year's new curriculum, students were asked to take part in the Team Enterprise scheme, helping to run the college's own company, Shooting Stars.

Dawn was made sales director, and helped to sell personalised stationary, t-shirts and jewellery.

Judges, who assess similar schemes in mainstream schools, were impressed by Dawn's dramatic improvement.

Joan Brindle, deputy principal at the David Lewis College, said Dawn had shown great determination in overcoming not only her difficulties but also strong competition from other students.

Mr Bissett believes Dawn's achievements show just how well the college is performing.

He said: "It is great that a member of our school can improve so much to win a regional award like this, competing against children from mainstream schools.

"It reflects extremely well on all the work tutors put in to help these very demanding pupils."