STUDENT Gillian Price has just done a 12-month "stretch" at a North-west prison, and now she's set to receive a royal pat-on-the-back.

The 18-year-old spent a year at Risley jail and was reluctant to say goodbye at the end of her term.

Gillian was there under the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award scheme. The service skill section of the project involved her working at the prison once dubbed 'grisly Risley' while another saw her tackling the subject of criminology.

The first few months involved working in the visitors centre before moving on to the male wing of the visiting area. Gillian of Lilford, Leigh, explained: "I was serving tea and I also went in to where the prisoners were.

"I didn't want to leave in the end. Now I can't wait to get back inside! My aim is to be a prison governor. This is something I have wanted to do for years."

Part of the reason for her ambition could be the fact that her mum works in a probation office at Risley. Gillian's criminology work included visiting a police station and studying the judiciary system.

Next year she is due to meet the Duke of Edinburgh at Holyrood, Scotland, along with other award winners.

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