A BRIDGWATER student and gifted public speaker is dreaming of being Prime Minister after overcoming difficulties in her life.

Rhiannon Petteford, aged 14, of Chilton Trinity has Asperger’s Syndrome and also has been in an out of hospitals since an early age.

Now she is planning to use her experiences to carve out a career helping the people of Britain.

She has just won Chilton Trinity's public speaking competition after explaining why everybody has lost hope in politics and why it doesn't have to be that way.

Rhiannon - who plans to go to Kings College, London - has had an interest in politics from an early age.

"I want to be a female Prime Minister but different," she said. "My Asperger’s Syndrome helps me to see the world in a different way, which is a good thing.

"I'm not from a rich background, which is where politicians are traditionally from.

"I have a different world view and I think I see things differently and would enjoy being a voice for the people.

"I have been through a lot of things that have made me sad and angry and I don't want people to feel that way.

"I have had a lot of medical problems that has made me value my health and gives me a different insight on things."

Headteacher Lesley Greenway said: "Rhiannon is an inspiration and has a great career ahead of her."