A 19-year-old student showed off her web design and coding skills to win silver in the regional heat of a national technology competition.

Elaf Ghadhban, from Harrow Weald, is studying IT at the College of North West London, in Willesden, and was one of several students who took part in the Worldskills UK regional IT heats last week.

Testing their skills in web design, network management and use of software, the team won 10 out of the 12 medals available, taking home Battling it out against students from four colleges, they won a total of four gold medals, three silver and three bronze.

Elaf said: “I am absolutely thrilled because initially I hadn’t had the confidence to enter the competition because it was so out of my comfort zone.

“But my teacher really encouraged me and pushed me to do it and I’m so thankful to him now.”

“I had to work very hard for it too because we only had a short amount of time to train and we had exams at the same time but it has all paid off.

“My family are really proud of me too as they’d witnessed the hard I’d done so it’s really exciting.”

Miss Ghadhban now hopes to take part in – and win - the upcoming national event and eventually the international competition in Abu Dhabi.

College principal Andy Cole said: “It is great to see our outstanding record in IT-based competitions continuing.

“Successes like this really underline the value of the education we provide.

“We are equipping students with the top-rate skills to excel not just in competitions but in employment.”