A beauty therapist in Wantage has won a national award for decorating fingernails.

Paula Booker, who works at the Curl Up and Dye Nail Bar in Grove Street, Wantage, was named best nail technician in the natural nails section of the national nail competition held at Earls Court, London.

Miss Booker, 22, of Princess Gardens, Grove, was delighted. She said: "I was very proud, I didn't expect to win. You have to be very concentrated when doing nails. "For the contest, I had to do two nails in red and two with a French polish. By the end they should look like glass."

Miss Booker studied for an NVQ in beauty therapy at Abingdon College and has worked as a nail technician for two years.