AN inspirational Hoghton school teacher has won the honour of being the best science teacher in the North West.

Shehnaz Vorajee, of Brindle Gregson Lane Primary, won the Primary Science Teacher of the Year Award because of her outstanding work bringing science lessons to life.

The award was especially deserved as Shehnaz has been teaching in a portable cabin ever since the school was destroyed by arsonists at Easter last year.

She scooped £750 for the school and £500 for herself and will be presented with the personal award and a certificate at an award ceremony in Birmingham in January.

Shehnaz, 31, beat off all other science teachers in the North West to win one of five regional awards offered by pharmaceutical company Pfizer.

Headteacher Vivian Clark, said the former Bradford University biomedical student was assessed by competition judges who came and sat in on one of her classes and she was an inspiration to her pupils and the whole school.

"She's absolutely fantastic and it is well deserved. She is one of those inspirational teachers. I cannot think of anyone else who deserves it as much. She's so dedicated and works so hard that she deserves to be one of those teachers that children remember when they get older."

Shehnaz, who lives in Preston, said she has a real passion for science and teaching.

"There is a lot of job satisfaction in what I do, I love it. Seeing the children progress is wonderful. You can't get this from any other job.

"With the school's new building nearing completion this is an exciting time for all of us and reflects well on the whole school.

"We've been learning in portable cabins, which has its disadvantages, especially when it rains, but the staff are such a strong team and Mrs Clark has been wonderful.

"She has really kept us all sane. You could say we have truly risen from the ashes."

John Adams, Academic Liaison Manager at Pfizer, said: "Encouraging students at a young age to be excited by science is the key to developing the lifeblood of biomedical research. They are the good scientists who will drive our future."

Construction at the school is on track and two-thirds of its new building has already been finished. Pupils and staff will move in next April.