A BUDDING accountant is totting up his successful GCSE passes.

David Church, 16, from Westcliff, gained 3A*s and 12As and is now planning to study accountancy, maths, business studies and geography at South East Essex College in Southend.

David, who went to Southend's Cecil Jones School, is delighted by the results, which he hopes will lead him into a career in accountancy.

He said: "My Mum was really shocked and really happy for me because I don't think she was expecting it.

"I just keep staring at the piece of paper to check I've not made a mistake!"