A student who was made homeless after a devastating fire on Christmas Eve has scored top grades in her A levels.

Samira Hersi, a pupil at The Excelsior Academy in Hackney, said she “lost everything” after an electrical fire broke out at her family’s ground floor flat at the end of last year.

All of her course notes were destroyed in the fire, which also forced her family into temporary accommodation.

Samira was with her mum at home, where she also lived with her three brothers aged 10, 19 and 21, when the fire broke out.

Recalling the ordeal, Samira said: "I went to the bathroom and smelled smoke. I opened my brother's room and there was a fire.

“There was smoke everywhere and we had to get out. Luckily our flat was on the ground floor."

The student added that focusing on her school work helped her through having to move home every couple of months, before her family was permanently rehoused in March.

Samira said: "I lost everything and while I am obviously so happy we are all safe it was really hard.”

The Excelsior Academy provided Samira, who is an aspiring corporate lawyer, with essential reading materials and resources to support her during this period.

She ultimately achieved an A in English literature and Bs in chemistry and design technology, enabling her to read law at Warwick University.