ONE Okehampton resident with drive and determination has proved anything is possible, when she graduated from the Open University after ten years of hard study.

Linda Brightwell, who has lived in Okehampton for the last four years, moved down from Manchester with her husband after her children left home.

Linda, who turned 62 this month, suffered a breakdown after two major operations and the loss of both her parents in the space of one and half years.

Linda, who studied for a BA degree, graduated on Friday, September 18 at the Barbican Centre in London.

She said having the support of her family got her through: 'I had to drop out of two courses, but with the encouragement of my family, I carried on. I wanted to get a degree because my children and husband all had one and I wanted one too.

'I didn't have much self-confidence and I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.'

Linda said helping other sufferers was her ultimate gain.

She said: 'I wanted to show that people who suffer the death of somebody, depression or anxiety, can still achieve their goals — even if it takes them that bit longer.

'I feel brilliant and have been on cloud nine ever since.

'My husband has been lovely, even though I killed him off in one of my stories!'