The mum-of-four is graduating today with a degree in Three Dimensional Design – 27 years after her first degree at Portsmouth Polytechnic.

She's also had to deal with life-altering difficulties like weaknesses in her hands and this amazing result couldn't have been any more deserved.

After completing a degree in sociology in 1981, Mrs Topp raised a family of four sons.

She took up a post graduate teaching course, followed by supply teaching, as well a number of evening courses in her spare time.

And after enjoying these classes immensely, she then sought her next challenge – the Three Dimensional Design degree.

It proved to be an even greater challenge as she had to overcome her dyslexia and an operation for carpal tunnel syndrome.

This medial condition, which causes severe pains and muscle weakness in the hand, wrist and forearm, posed harsh problems, especially for the hands-on course.

Despite her difficulties, adapting to university life once again, juggling a family life with education, the 49-year-old still picked up a great result and has made her family proud.

Mrs Topp, of St Ronan's Road, Southsea, said: 'As a mature student I felt I appreciated the experience more. The social life was also quite different - I didn't find myself hitting the clubs this time around.

'Advice I would give for a mother who's thinking about doing a degree would be – to definitely do it! I had a lot of support from my family and the university was great.'