A BURY embroidery student could stitch up a national award.

Martine Collister has been recommended for a medal of excellence after impressing her examiners.

Martine (40) of Walmersley Road, Bury has just completed a four-year course at the Arts and Crafts Centre in Bury, studying for her City and Guilds Part II in embroidery.

But until she visited the Broad Street centre, embroidery was not a serious hobby of Martine's.

"I met course tutor Val Maden at an open day," she said, "and since then I have found the course incredibly interesting.

"The Arts and Crafts Centre has been fantastic for me," she added. "Both in the quality of tuition and because it is available locally. And as my baby was only six months old when I joined, I could use the creche there. The longer the Arts and Crafts can remain in Bury the better."

Martine now plans to enrol at Bury College to do a foundation course in embroidery, followed hopefully by a degree course at Manchester Metropolitan University.

A video will now be prepared of her work which will be sent to judges who will decide who receives the medal.

Her tutor Val Maden said: "She's a very talented woman and we are all thrilled to bits."