Former schoolteacher John Cant has been back to school to study for a degree.

And as well as achieving a first class degree at the age of 62 he also won a special award.

The unassuming academic suffered what he described as a "slight heart attack" during his studies.

And he has been awarded the Essex Helping Hands Trust for students who have achieved academic success despite personal adversity.

Mr Cant was midway through studying for a combined humanities degree in English, history and film last Easter when he suffered heart problems.

He said of his medical problems, which left him hospitalised: "I did have a slight heart attack last Easter but it didn't really interrupt my studies.

"It happened during the holidays so it didn't get in the way at all.

"I'm quite pleased but I'm also pleased for the Colchester Institute - I couldn't have done it without help."

Mr Cant, who lives in Stebbing near Braintree, switched from part-time to full-time study at Colchester Institute three years ago upon retiring from his post as a maths teacher at Helena Romanes School in Dunmow after 25 years.

The humanities degree was a change of tack from the subjects he studied in his youth when he gained an engineering degree.

"I thought it was time I completed my education!" he joked.

Mr Cant will be presented with the Helping Hands prize at the Anglia Polytechnic University's award ceremony at Chelmsford Cathedral today .

And next month Mr Cant, of The Downs, Stebbing, will formally graduate from his humanities degree course at Anglia Polytechnic University - the body to which the Colchester Institute's degree courses are affiliated.

But that won't mark the end of his studies - Mr Cant is now taking a Masters degree in American prose and poetry at Essex University.

He said: "I think I've got the taste for it now - I'll probably just keep on studying from here on in."

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