A FORMER Horrabridge Primary School and Tavistock College student faces a big change in career next week, when she moves from selling houses to a primetime presenter slot on Plymouth Sound.

Victoria Compton, whose family lives in Horrabridge and whose sister Laura still attends the college, will join existing presenter Martin Mills and producer Gavin Marshall as a breakfast show presenter on Monday.

Victoria, 27, studied travel and tourism after leaving school, firstly at Plymouth College of Further Education and then at Thames Valley University.

She took up a position as a holiday representative in Europe for four years before becoming an hotel entertainer in Majorca for a further year.

Victoria said: 'When I came back I just wanted to get any job, so became a temp in the office of Wimpey Homes. Then they promoted me to sales, which I have been doing for a few years.'

Victoria got the bug for radio when she helped out with interviews and fund-raising at Radio Tavistock when she was Tavistock Carnival Queen at the age of 15.

'I thought: "I'd really like to do this,"' she said. 'But I wrote letter after letter and never got anywhere.'

Having heard that presenter Martin Mills was compering a fashion show she went along and met him. As a result she spent some time at the studios watching what he did. Then the vacancy arose.

'I did a demo tape, but thought it was awful, but they called me back to do another and then offered me the job,' said Victoria, who said she was 'really excited' about her new job.

Victoria is due to be thrown in at the deep end next week — this week she spent at the studios 'taking it day to day'.

She said she was not technically minded and would have to learn to operate the control desk.

'But after being a holiday rep I think it'll be quite easy,' she laughed.

Victoria's mother Sue said the family was 'thrilled to bits' at the news.

'It came right out of the blue, but it's something she's always wanted to do — and she's very good at talking,' she said.