Coleg Llandrillo Cymru's David Duller - who is profoundly deaf - made it to the last four of the Welsh region in the ITV Teacher of the Year category, and just missed out on being the Welsh representative at the televised London final.

He said: "I was delighted and honoured to receive the nomination from one of my students. One of my aims is to promote awareness of British Sign Language (BSL) as Britain's fourth official language, demonstrating that it is a vibrant and living form of communication."

Before starting his studies at the college Mr Duller worked as an assembly line operator and was often asked by colleagues to teach them some sign language

He said: "I wanted to give people the opportunity to learn to sign and communicate more easily when they meet deaf people. So I thought why not go to college and learn how to teach properly."

Mr Duller has been a full-time lecturer at the college for seven years specialising in BSL, Deaf Awareness, and Deaf Culture and History, and has won the fforwm Further Education Tutor Award.

One of David's students said: "I have never known a tutor to give so much to his job, out of work as well as in.

"David provides additional support to anyone who needs it and in his spare time he helps students at a Sign Club he set up, and has organised trips to a deaf club in Liverpool.

"He is committed to widening participation and making learning accessible, taking BSL into rural communities and areas of social deprivation."