A LANCASTER student's remarkable story of securing a first-class degree despite losing 21 years of her memory has gripped the world's media.

Dogged determination drove Leanne Walker through her studies after being struck by Encephalitis, which robbed her of her memories and almost her life.

But she battled back to recovery and has received a 2:1 in psychology from Lancaster University.

Her compelling story has hit the headlines across the globe, reaching as far as New Zealand.

"I just got a text message from a guy I know in Turkey who said I was on the news," said the 23-year-old this week.

The former Lancaster Girls Grammar and L&M College student admitted being surprised' by the attention.

"I didn't think there would be such a big reaction. But I think if there's someone else out there with a similar condition it could give them hope," she told the Citizen.

Leanne was struck by Encephalitis, a rare brain virus, in December 2000.

Doctors warned her parents Sue and Bob that she was unlikely to pull through.

Against the odds, she survived and was allowed home after a month in hospital. But tests showed she had lost most of her memory.

"It was horrendous but we were just glad she was alive," says Mrs Walker. "It was like having a new born baby. I had to sleep with her in case she needed the toilet in the night because she couldn't remember how to find it. For some time she only had a thirty-second memory so I would stick labels on everything to try and help her."

Leanne, who returned to university in September 2001, initially had no recollection of who or what anyone or anything was.

"My mum and dad told me that they would play dominoes with me. We played so many games but when we packed away I asked what we had been doing," she said.

She remembered how to ride a bike and drive but has had to re-learn how to write.

"And I am really bad with remembering people's names - I have to meet people a few times before I recognise them," she said.

Leanne is now teaching herself French, and acknowledges she is a very determined character.

"I always need something to be doing; to keep active mentally."

She has high praise for Lancaster University, which she believes is unique' for the support it gave her.

"Lancaster was absolutely brilliant. They did everything they could to help me."

The university's Dr Peter Walker, a cognitive psychologist who worked with Leanne, said she showed tremendous determination'.

"She never once felt sorry for herself and to her the glass was always half full."

Leanne studied her memory loss during her degree, and Dr Walker says the findings have helped shed light on how memory recovery works.

Psychology department head Tom Ormerod said: "Leanne has come through the most extraordinarily tough set of circumstances.

"It is down to her determination and ability that she did so well."