A YOUNG woman who has achieved her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award was invited to meet Prince Edward.

Jessica Law, 19, from Warfield, was among those from the South East who went to St James's Palace in London to receive a certificate for the prestigious award, which involved carrying out voluntary work and doing a four-day expedition.

Miss Law did the first Bronze award through her school, Ranelagh, then did the Silver and Gold parts with Bracknell Forest Council. She said: "It was really amazing. Prince Edward talked to me quite a lot because quite a lot of the young people there all did the award with private schools but because I did it with Bracknell Forest Council, he took a bit more interest in it."

Of the DofE experience, she said: "I got to make loads of friends and I've discovered skills that I never knew I had. Now I volunteer for the charity and I really enjoy it so I get to keep up the knowledge I have and pass it on to others."

Miss Law, who studies bio-medical science at Brighton University, received her certificate on Tuesday last week.