Pass rates for pupils in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Neath-Port Talbot have exceeded the Wales average.

This is not a time to look for problems but to celebrate success

Iwan Rees, head teacher

The average pass rate for the four south west Wales counties under the Welsh exam board, the Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC), is 98.8% compared to an all Wales figure of 98.2%.

Swansea achieved its best set of results ever, at this level, in the county.

Overall, 98.3% of A-level entrants achieved the pass grades of A-E, 26.7% were awarded the top A grade - above the Wales average of 21.5%.

Carmarthenshire also improved on its results from last year with a pass rate of more than 98%, with one-in-four gaining A grades.

There were expressions of relief and pride at Welsh-medium secondary school Maes Yr Yrfa in Cefneithin.

Dewi Owen, 18, gained three A grades and a B - more than enough for him to study medicine in Cardiff.

Friends celebrate

He said: "I am very relieved, I needed two A's and a B.

"Dad is a doctor so he's happy."

Rhian Williams,18, with three A grades, has gained a place to study law at Oxford.

She said: "I'm really chuffed because I had to get three A's.

"It's been a lot of pressure and I'm very relieved."

Head teacher Iwan Rees said: "All the students have had very worthy results and have fulfilled their potential.

"This is not a time to look for problems but to celebrate success."

Top marks

Neath Port Talbot says its pupils have kept pace with the national average.

At Neath-Port Talbot college, one student recorded five A grades.

The overall pass rate in Pembrokeshire has risen to 99.4%.

This figure represents a rise of 4.4% points on results achieved in 2001.

A-C level pass rate showed a 14.1% point increase on last year at 83.1% which according to the county shows the greatest improvement in Wales.