Dorset law firm Kitson & Trotman have presented the first tranche of a £1,000 bursary to Weymouth student Nicole Hannon.

Nicole, 18, is heading for King’s College, London, to study law after a successful set of A-level results in law, English literature and history from Budmouth College.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Nicole, from Chickerell.

“It’s a bit daunting, but it will be good.

“I’m really grateful to Kitson & Trotman for the bursary, which will be very helpful, especially in London.”

Kitson & Trotman Partner Richard King congratulated Nicole and confirmed that the firm - which has offices in Bridport, Beaminster, Lyme Regis and Weymouth - would be running the bursary scheme again this year, but it will also be open to students in West Dorset.

The bursary scheme was launched in 2016 to coincide with the opening of the firm’s office in St Albans Street, Weymouth, where local solicitor Stephen Jones is at the helm.

This time, however, the bursary will be available to Year 13 students who are planning to go on to study law at university and are currently at schools or colleges in Weymouth, Bridport, Beaminster and Lyme Regis.

Kitson & Trotman was established in 1756. The firm specialises in property, wills and probate, business, family, dispute resolution and agriculture.

The firm sponsors a number of events in the area, including The Melplash Show, the Beaminster Festival, Buckham Fair, Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week and the Bridport Literary Festival.

Mr King said: “In opening the new office at Weymouth, we were keen to show our support for young people in the town, especially as solicitor Stephen Jones has lived here all his life and decided upon a career in law after being inspired by an open evening at Weymouth College.

“We are delighted to be able to help someone taking their first important steps on a career journey.”

Nicole moves to London over the weekend of 16-17 September 16-17. “I was really happy when I found out I had got into King’s. It was London I wanted to be in.

“I loved it at the open days and it’s great getting to know, via Facebook groups, the other people who will be studying with me.”

Nicole, who took a shine to law in the sixth-form, said she was interested in human rights and also tort, particularly negligence.

“But there are so many other areas and when I go to university it will give me a better idea in which direction to go,” she said.