A cook at the Mount Pleasant Inn, Dawlish Warren, has won two medals at this year's World Skills competitions in Bournemouth.

And Leanne Powell, of Dawlish, is also Student of the Year at Exeter College.

Leanne, 20, who was doing an advanced apprenticeship in professional cookery at the college, won the admiration of her colleagues and astonished herself by winning silver and bronze medals at Bournemouth.

'I was shocked about winning the medals at Bournemouth because I only went for the experience,' she said.

Leanne is shy but Mount Pleasant Inn licensee Malcolm Protheroe said: 'She believes in herself and knows she can do things. She's responsible for a section, can work in any station of the kitchen, and is even training other students. You can leave her in charge and not worry about it.'

Mr Protheroe is still tickled pink about Leanne's wins in Bournemouth. 'She's a very quiet, reserved woman who lets her actions do the talking. It's fantastic the way she conducts herself. The college are very proud of her and so are we,' he said.

'This is a seasonal business but we gave Leanne a guarantee before she started that if she worked hard through the summer we would give her an apprenticeship and send her to college,' said Mr Protheroe.

Leanne said apprenticeship was a worthwhile avenue for anyone to explore.