A PHD STUDENT from Ellesmere Port who travels across the country every week to go home to see his sick daughter has been nominated for the nation’s Most Deserving Student.

David Moorhead spends more than £300 a month driving home to Little Sutton from his digs at the University of Bedfordshire, where he is studying for a PHD in cinematic adaptation.

David, 30, drives the hundreds of miles home every week to see his sick daughter Grace, seven, who has spent the past few months in and out of hospital.

His tenacity has impressed his colleagues at university so much they nominated David for www.Motors.co.uk’s award of Most Deserving Student in the UK.

“It’s been one thing after another; and it’s just so worrying really,” said David, who has dyslexia and dyspraxia. “The doctors don’t know what the problem is exactly at the moment – Grace has been on morphine, had heart monitors and the last time she came out of hospital she had E.coli and kidney stones so it has been a nightmare.

“It’s a difficult balance because you are trying to create a good impression at university but you do have to go home.

“The most difficult thing is the distance and not always being there.”

David, who teaches future media as part of his course, and his partner Samantha, who is studying to be a nurse, are currently living on just two bursaries.

David added: “The nomination has been a massive boost to my confidence and helps motivate me through what can be a financial and intellectual struggle.

“I hope there are others with learning disabilities that can see this and realise it can be done.”

If David wins he will take home £1,000 for the student society of his choice and a Renault Twingo Extreme worth £5,000.