A university student has spoken of the importance of education after enrolling onto a course aged 70.

Grandmother-of-three Radha Virahsawmy of Frith Road in Leytonstone won an Adult Learners’ Week award after impressing lecturers at Birkbeck University, London.

Mrs Virahsawmy, now 71, is taking night classes to study visual arts.

Upon winning the award the former fashion teacher at Waltham Forest College said that learning gives her something 'worthwhile' to do in her spare time.

She added that studying has made her more confident and ‘stronger’ as a person.

Talks and workshops on subjects ranging from politics to yoga are being held in Leytonstone Library from Monday to get people interested in education.

Birkbeck’s Pop-Up University is aimed at encouraging adults to take part in further education.

Each event will be free and activities will run for three weeks.

A full programme of activities at Birkbeck’s Pop-Up University is available at http://www.walthamforestclass.gov.uk.