A TEACHER who has lived in Harefield since she was nine,and was a pupil at the village junior school, has won the title of Special Needs Teacher of the Year.

Louise Dunton, who works at Harefield Academy in Northwood Way, heard the news yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon at the 2008 Teaching Awards ceremony at London's Café Royal where she received a 'Plato' - the teaching awards symbol of excellence in education in the London region.

The principal of Harefield Academy, Lynn Gadd, who was at the ceremony with Mrs Dunton, said: "The success at the London Regional Teaching Awards is well deserved by Louise,the students she works with, staff who support her and the whole community."

Before heading for the awards yesterday Mrs Dunton told the Gazette: "I really enjoy what I do, the variety of my job, and the fact students can achieve in the long run."

She will join other UK winners hoping to be named Teacher Of The Year at a ceremony on October 19 at the London Palladium, to be broadcast later that day on BBC2.