AN INSPIRATIONAL Kendal College student received a special hi-tech prize after claiming victory in a writing competition.

The Gazette teamed up with the college to judge the 'Read All About It' event, with the oldest entrant coming out on top.

Alec McDaid, 57, was one of more than 60 people who submitted a piece of writing based on their course as part of Kendal College's English Language Week.

His work, entitled 'Young at Heart', saw him scoop the top prize - a brand new iPad Mini - thanks to its heart-warming message about how going back into education helped give him a new lease of life.

Alec is one of the college's 19-Plus students - a scheme the college uses to help adults gain relevant and useful modern-day qualifications.

After studying maths and English last year, Alec is currently working towards his English GCSE on June 2 this year.

He said: "At first I felt like a rabbit in the headlights but I persevered because I don't give up. Every week I'm here I'm taking a step higher up the ladder. It's like self-help. It shows you can join in and not feel like you're going to make a fool of yourself and the staff here go the extra mile and help you fit in and give you confidence."

An extract from Alec's winning prose states: "I feel like there are no limits and i will keep pushing myself further. It shows you that if you are prepared to take that risk and break out of your comfort zone then you are never too old to learn."

Jane Harrison, English and Maths Coordinator, said: "We want to encourage students to develop their creative writing skills across college rather than just in English lessons. Everybody engaged with it and enjoyed it."

Alec has a message for anybody thinking of going to college later in life: "You are never too old to learn so to all my friends who have retired I have one thing to say - there's life in the old dog yet."