Houghton Regis dad Paul Mooney is the picture of success as one of the top achievers nationwide in this summer's photography A-level.

And amazingly, focused 24-year-old Paul, of Vanbrugh Drive, did it all in his spare time.

He has earned high praise after awarding body Edexcel revealed that he was one of the elite students who gained top marks.

Dunstable College student Paul, who has three young children, works full-time as a warehouse co-ordinator, at Wickes, in Dunstable.

He showed his determination from the start, by signing up to study both AS and A2 photography in evening courses at the college, in September last year.

Paul excelled and managed to finish all of the work in just one year - most students take two years to complete the courses.

And on top of that, out of 5,592 candidates, his marks put him right at the top with the rest of the best.

Jerry Jervis, Edexcel's managing director, said: "This is a tremendous achievement and testament to the hard work students put into preparing for their exams. We send our congratulations to Paul."

The photographer's outstanding talent earned him the 2008 Dunstable College Annual Award For A-Levels, sponsored by Skillstrain.

Paul said: "I enjoyed the course a lot, and intend to continue into a photographic career to get the most out of the new skills I have learnt."

A-level co-ordinator Julia Chesters said: "Paul showed incredible flair for photography from the outset. In marking his portfolio, his marks went off the scale.

"The advice I was told to pass on to him was: 'Go to art college. You've got the entry portfolio there already.'"

"Paul was a very modest, self-effacing and supportive member of the photography AS and A2 groups, and inspired the other students to try to achieve what he had done."