A PARTIALLY deaf Salisbury mum has overcome personal difficulties and health problems to be crowned champion of champions.

Paula Oxford, 23, of Alderbury, has been named Wiltshire and Swindon's learning champion of the year 2004, after battling against the odds to reach a good level of English, despite leaving school at 16 with just one qualification, in health and social care.

Paula, who has four children, missed most of her schooling up to the age of nine as a result of a medical condition that left her open to infection.

She left school at 16, pregnant with her first child, and by age 19 had given birth to her second child.

In June 2001, when her son turned two, Paula joined an outreach literacy course organised by Salisbury College and has carried on improving her language skills ever since.

She is now working towards a certificate in counselling.

Receiving her award at the Champions awards dinner, in Swindon, last week Paula said: "I returned to learning mainly because of my son.

"I wanted to have a good level of English before he started school in September and that's what made me go to the classes in the first place."

Paula was nominated for the Learning and Skills Council's Lifelong Learning Award by Salisbury College tutor Beth Grisdale, who praised Paula for her determination and courage.

She said: "Her attitude to life is infectious and she has become not only a model student, but an inspiration to many."

Paula received the top prize of £1,000 to spend on educational equipment and is hoping to enrol in a childcare course in the future.