Herefordshire students felt even more pressure this morning as they opened their A-level results.

With tuition fees set to soar next year, students had even more reason to get the required grades needed for their chosen university this September.

However, many did not need to worry as pupils across the county gained record results, many receiving the new A* grade.

Hereford Cathedral School saw a huge number of students work their way to A* grades. Elly Smith was one, earning a place to study Natural Sciences at Cambridge after she received 4 A*s.

Chloe Gilbert also found herself celebrating this morning as she received 2 A*s and a place at Oxford to study History of Art.

And there was a double celebration for Iona Macleod who is celebrating her 18th birthday today.

She said it was ‘the best birthday of my life’ and described her 3 A grades as ‘the only present I ever wanted’.

The double celebrations continued at Hereford Sixth Form College as twins Ruth and Holly Brookes opened their results to find they had earned 5 A grades each, including 3 A*s.

They revealed that the secret to their success may be a twin thing.

"We always revised together and would steal each other’s notes," they said. "Twins are the best!"

There will be a comprehensive A-level results round-up in next Thursday's Hereford Times.