IT has been a difficult day for Island students trying to contact universities to confirm their places after receiving their A-level results.

Record numbers of applicants across the British Isles (670,000) chasing 470,000 places led to the UCAS track system crashing throughout the day.

University switchboards were over run and one of the Island's schools had eight phones in use to contact universities.

By 2pm most students had been successful in securing places at their first choice university.

There are relatively few students looking for places through 'clearing' despite concerns in the UK there would be fierce competition for university places.

The Island has been celebrating a 97.8 per cent pass rate - the second highest on record.

Also see: A-level results in the Island among the best ever