A Swanmore deputy head teacher has won a teaching Oscar by scooping the prestigious Primary School Teacher of the Year award.

In a ceremony at Winchester's Guildhall, Sharon Witt, 40, received a "Plato" in the south-east region of the British Telecom Teaching Awards.

Mark Colman from the Arnewood School, New Milton, also triumphed in the ceremony, taking the award for most creative use of computers in school.

Fareham RE teacher Robert Milliken, who works at the Crofton School, won a lifetime achievement award for his 25 years' work in the town.

Brian Hart, head teacher of the Cedar Special School, Nursling, was one of four teachers shortlisted for the regional school leadership award.

Sharon, who has taught at Swanmore Primary for nine years, was nominated by teaching assistants who said she had been a "role model for colleagues".

Her anonymous nomination form said: "For pupils she is the type of teacher that remembers small details about everyone she teaches, making them feel special. Parents think she is a real star."

Sharon said: "I was delighted to be nominated but when I heard I had won I just felt so honoured. There are so many hard-working teachers, it is nice to be recognised and receive a thank you."

Swanmore head teacher Lesley Hutchings said: "She's like a ray of sunshine.

"She is so good-natured and she is always smiling and laughing about her work. The children absolutely love her. She is the best teacher I have known in my career."

Robert Miliken said: "The students nominated me and that was very rewarding.''

All nominations were discussed by a committee chaired by Dame Sheila Wallis and made up of previous award winners.

Dame Sheila said: "Every year the task of finding a winner for each of the categories becomes harder, which is good news for the pupils and for the judges who return from school visits extremely excited by the excellent practice they have been privileged to witness."

Each of the winners won £2,000 and computer kit for the school worth £1,000.

Sharon and Mark are now going through to the national stage of the awards, which is due to be held in October this year.