A young deaf woman from Bradford has been nominated for a top national education award.

Bhavana Mistry is one of six hopefuls short-listed for the BTEC Higher National Award at the Edexcel Achievement in Education awards 2001.

If she wins she will get £1,000 to spend on an educational activity or charity of her choice. She will also be entered for the Outstanding Student of the Year Award, with the chance to win £5,000 to spend on her education and £5,000 more for her college.

The awards will be presented at the Royal Lancaster hotel in London on July 5, with guests including Terry Waite and Falklands hero Simon Weston.

Bhavana, of Clayton, last year completed a two-year Higher National Diploma in Fashion Design at York College. She began her education at Bradford's Thorn Park School for deaf children and went on to study art at Bradford University.

While at York College, Bhavana was nominated for the Deaf Artist Award 2000, in which she was highly commended.

Just before leaving York College she was given a £4,000 grant from the national Jack Ashley Millennium Award Scheme. She used the cash to fulfil her dream of travelling to India, where she shared her fashion skills with youngsters at the Sheila Kothwala Institute for the Deaf.