A former prostitute who gave up her life on the streets to go back to the classroom has won a prestigious award.

Angela Brook, pictured, has so impressed her tutors with her determination to build herself a better life that she has been presented with a National Learners' Award.

And Angela, who turned to prostitution to survive after leaving home at 16, hopes her success can be an inspiration to others.

"I'm really happy with where I am at the moment," she said. "I want people to look at what I've done and think: 'If she can do it, I can do it'. I want people to look at it in a positive way."

Angela, from Manningham, who is studying for a degree, decided to go back to school after working as a prostitute for 12 years.

"When I got to 29 I decided that's it, I've had enough," she said. "I was talking to some people who were running a project in Bradford at the time, and they saw something in me and encouraged me to get back into education.

"They said 'If we pay for your books for the first couple of months, would you do it?' It was something I'd thought about but I think I just needed pushing that way, for which I am grateful."

Colin Neville, Guidance Tutor at the university's centre for continuing education, put Angela forward for the award, which is presented to help mark national Adult Learners' Week.

He said: "I nominated her because she took an enormous risk and a big jump from what she was doing to come back into education.

"She's a very confident student and very good in class because she challenges the lecturers and stimulates other students to participate.

"I was happy to nominate her and I'm very pleased that she has won."

Angela, 35, is studying part-time for a degree in Continuing Studies and is determined to carry on improving her education.

"I had a big chip on my shoulder, I thought there was more to life and thought I could make some money one way or another," she said.

"At the end of the day I treated prostitution as a job; okay it wasn't the right kind of job, but I kept myself to myself."

Angela plans to complete her course by the end of 2002 and her long-term goal is to start her own scheme to help prostitutes.

"I'm hoping to set up my own project working with women who've been abused, have been taking drugs, or are involved in prostitution," she said.

"I want to get into that kind of work because it's something I was involved in, I know what goes on and what help these people need."

Angela's family only found out that she was working as a prostitute after she appeared on the TV programme, Manningham Diaries, five years ago, but relatives and friends have given their backing in her studies.

"My fianc has been very supportive, when I do essays he always reads them, it's like he's studying along with me and he really encourages me," she said.

As part of her prize, Angela has been invited to a presentation in London on Monday, May 14, but is too busy to attend.

"I've got a 2,500 word essay due in next Thursday. I've never handed an essay in late or asked for extensions and I will finish it even if I have to stay up day and night!" she said.