PRIME Minister Gordon Brown has hailed South Devon College as 'the very best'.

College principal Stephen Criddle was among more than 70 further education leaders in the country to be invited to Downing Street for a special reception.

The event was organised to recognise the work of education institutions that are excelling.

The 73 colleges represented were rated as the highest performing and most quickly improving during the last two Ofsted inspections.

Mr Brown said: "These colleges are among the very best and most improving in the country and I am hugely impressed by their commitment to helping people get the skills, the training and inspiration to achieve their full potential.

"The principals, staff and students should be very proud of their achievements, and I am delighted to celebrate their success here in Downing Street."

He added: "Colleges are at the heart of their communities, helping people through the recession and key to the UK's economic recovery.

"Training the next generation of engineers, scientists, teachers and designers, they are developing the skills we need to prosper in the decades ahead."

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson also praised the colleges saying: "It is right that we celebrate excellence and these colleges are beacons of success that we can all be proud of.

"They are playing a major role making sure people have the skills they need to fulfil their potential and drive the economy forwards. The success of these colleges and others like them will help everyone share in the proceeds of growth."

Mr Criddle, who enjoyed his first ever visit to Number 10, said it was great for the college to be recognised for all its hard work.

He added: "It was very impressive. It was a good event. It was really good for both the PM and Lord Mandelson to recognise the huge contribution we make to the local community and the opportunities we give local people of all ages.

"It's important to have that recognition especially as a top performing college. It's a tribute to the hard work of both staff and students."