STUDENTS at high schools across Powys had smiles on their faces this morning as they collected A level results including a bumper crop of top grades.

Across the county 23 per cent of results were at the top A star and A grades, a one per cent improvement on last year.

However the A star to C pass rate fell to 79 per cent, from 81 per cent last year, and the overall A star to E pass rate also fell from 99 per cent in 2014 to 98 per cent.

Across Wales the overall A star to E pass rate was 97.3 per cent, with 7.3 per cent of passes being A stars.

The county council said Powys results, with the WJEC exam board, are nearly five per cent higher than the all Wales figures for 2015 and two per cent higher than results in England.

Among those celebrating at Brecon High School was Bethan Adams of Brecon who scored a clean sweep of A grades.

The 18-year-old achieved As in English, business studies and history as well as a top A star grade in the Welsh Baccalaureate but admitted to nervousness when arriving at the Penlan school.

"I was just a bit nervous," said Bethan: "I was hiding in the car and waited for my mum to go in and get them."

Securing a clean sweep of A stars at Crickhowell High School has led to a family celebration for Alice Bough.

Alice gained top grades in chemistry, biology and maths and said she will join some familiar faces at Cambridge University, where she will study natural sciences: "I’m so relieved to finally get my results and happy to be joining my brother and sister at Churchill College, Cambridge."

Jane Asplin, headteacher at Llandrindod High School, said most students had secured places at their first choice universities, including at some of the top ’Russell Group’ institutions.

"We had some really good results, particularly at A star to B the results are excellent.

"The vast majority of our students have gained a place at the university of their choice, many going on to study at Russell Group Universities. I would like to thank our staff for their commitment and the parents for their on-going support."

At Christ College in Brecon Bronnie Davies of Llangors was among those celebrating a hat trick of A grades in biology, chemistry and mathematics.

The 18-year-old will now study at Exeter University, the most popular destination for students leaving the independent school for higher education this year.

"I needed three As to get into Exeter to study biology and I didn’t think I would get as you can never tell with exams," said a relieved Bronnie.

For more from this year’s A level results get your copy of The Brecon & Radnor Express on sale from Wednesday, August 19