A GRATEFUL student has fired a giant pot as a final mark of respect for the teacher who sculpted his pottery skills.

Yesterday, Will Tooby, unveiled the last pot made by his mentor - the internationally renowned potter and teacher Monica Young.

Ms Young, who died last year, was well known for her giant pots that had to be fired in specially built kilns.

Her pieces could be as large as 6ft tall, and she won many awards. They have fetched as much as £5,000.

She produced the 5ft pot late in life, but it was never fired before she died.

Mr Tooby is a co-owner Foal Yard, a set of artists' studios in Bransford, near Worcester.

He offered up his own oversize kiln to complete the job after stormy weather had destroyed Ms Young's kiln in Yorkshire, where she used to live.

The artefact had to be bricked up in the kiln, and fired for more than 24 hours.

"I was incredibly privileged to be taught by her," said Mr Tooby.

"I broke through the wall of the kiln yesterday, and it looks as if the pot came through the firing very nicely," he added.

The kiln will now be taken back to Yorkshire to Ms Young's sister.