YOUNG hairdresser Samantha Tilley is a cut above the rest after being named student of the year by Malvern Hills College.

Samantha, 17, qualified as a junior stylist this year when she completed her hairdressing course at the college.

"She literally shone out from the rest. She was an excellent student," said course manager Pam Hopkins.

"Her attendance was good, she was very skilled and she was 100 per cent when it came to client care. Student of the year is very well deserved."

Samantha, who now works full-time at Andrew's Hair and Beauty Studio in Malvern Link, said she had wanted to do hairdressing since she was a little girl.

"My tutors were great, really encouraging and I'm very grateful to them and to Andrew Slater for his help," said Samantha, who started working at Andrew's while she was still at school and worked there part time while studying for her Level 2 hairdressing qualification.

"I've really enjoyed working at the salon, it's what I've always wanted to do and it's been great," she said.

Mr Slater said: "I'm very impressed with what she's achieved. A lot of youngsters nowadays get bad press. It makes a nice change that somebody can achieve so much at a young age."

Samantha will receive her award at a presentation evening in October at Evesham College, the sister college to Malvern Hills.