A school leaver who overcame a serious heart condition has achieved top exam results and is looking forward to going to university.

Charlotte MunroCharlotte Munro, 18, who studied at Bicester Community College in Queens Avenue, gained three A grades in her A-levels - five years after open heart surgery.

Charlotte, of Eden Way, Bicester, had fallen ill while on a family holiday at Disneyland, Paris. A scan revealed a a 1.8cm hole in her heart - when she was four, an earlier scan had revealed a heart murmur but not a hole.

Her mother, Beverley Munro, recalled: "The doctors said she wouldn't make it to 30 if she did not have the operation."

Charlotte said: "I had been playing a lot of sports and never felt ill."

She was on the school hockey team and they won their league that year.

The operation took place at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, in November 1996, and just three weeks later Charlotte was back at school.

She said: "I didn't let it stop me, it's just a heart operation. It didn't stop me doing anything apart from playing sport."

Charlotte was left with a 15-centimetre long scar measuring about two-and-a-half centimetres wide.

In February this year, she had plastic surgery to reduce the size of the scar to about half a centimetre.

This time, she had one day off school. Charlotte described her surgery as less painful than getting a tattoo.

Despite the surgery, she had excellent GCSE and A-level results. Charlotte said: "I'm just good at exams, I'm not a boffin."

She was awarded seven As, including two A* for her GCSEs, and three grade As at A Level.

Her sister Emily, a Bicester Community College student, learned last week she had gained 13 GCSEs, which included four As and one A*.

In October, Charlotte heads off to the Kent Institute of Art and Design, at Maidstone, to start a graphic design degree.

Once she has completed her studies she plans to work in America.

Mrs Munro said: "She is a very determined girl."

Charlotte is looking for sponsorship to help her finance university or a holiday work-experience placement.

Anyone interested can contact Mrs Munro on 01869 242121.