A group of Hull College students have been shortlisted in a top design category at the 2010 Bridal Buyer Awards.

Six students took part in a two-week project to design wedding dresses for the awards.

Organised by Bridal Buyer magazine, the event is a highlight on the industry's calendar and is widely regarded as Europe's top bridal awards ceremony.

The students were given a brief by the magazine and had to come up with eye-catching designs.

Just 15 students have been listed nationwide for the Best Student Designer Award from thousands of entries.

The category is open to students studying on BTEC courses right up to full BA (Hons) degrees.

Competition is fierce with college students competing with students from universities and specialist art schools.

Daisy Slater, 15, one of the six shortlisted, said: "It is such an honour to be recognised in this way.

"I love studying at the college and hope to progress into a career in the fashion industry.

"It is exciting enough to attend the awards, which showcase the best in the bridal business, but to be shortlisted is amazing."

The other shortlisted students are John Taylor, Hannah Coates, Samantha Mason, Lucy Basset and Shamima Begum.

Laura Peebles Brown, a tutor at the college, said: "We are so proud of our learners and the standard of their work.

"To have six successful entries from the college out of a total of 15 in the category is brilliant and both learners and tutors have worked hard to achieve this.

"It is a national competition and our learners are the only ones in the area to be shortlisted."

Hull College's BTEC course has an excellent record at the Bridal Buyer Awards, having won first prize for the past two years.

James Scarah won the competition in 2008 and has since completed his BTEC National Diploma in fashion and clothing at Hull College and has taken up a place at the prestigious St Martin's College of Art and Design in London.

Susi Rogol, Bridal Buyer's editor, said: "We've had a terrific response to the 2010 awards, far greater than ever before.

"All the learners at Hull College have done brilliantly to get shortlisted from such a huge field.

"It is unusual to have such a high number of entries from one educational institution shortlisted.

"Britain's bridal industry is the most creative in the world, and we are delighted we are able to organise this annual ceremony, so that we can shine the spotlight on the wealth of talent and innovation it displays."

Trophies for this year's winners will be presented at an awards ceremony at Harrogate International Exhibition Centre on Monday March 15.

More than 500 leading names in the UK bridal industry are expected to attend.