Two friends who own a sandwich shop are packing up the baguettes because they're off to university.

Gaynor Sawyer, 46, and Jayne Wood, 42, have run the Designer Sandwich shop on Racecommon Road for 18 years.

They've decided to sell so they can start studying in September after completing a higher education access to health and nursing course at Barnsley College.Gaynor, of Kingstone, wants to become an operating department practitioner and Jayne, of Stairfoot, will be studying to be an occupational therapist

.They were up against it, with 300 applicants battling for one of 16 places on Jayne's course at Huddersfield University and 380 vying for one of 58 places on Gaynor's course at Sheffield Hallam University.

"The decision to do it came when I lost my mum," said Gaynor.

"I started to think differently and thought to myself if I don't make a change now I never will.

"Then we found out about a girl who comes in the shop and she had just finished her degree in nursing and said to try it.

"So we both went on the access course and it's changed our lives being able to go to university."

It means a lot to the ladies as they both left school without qualifications, and before setting up the sandwich shop worked as cleaners at Barnsley Hospital until they were made redundant.

"It's been really hard," said Jayne.

"But it is something to celebrate. Neither of us wanted to be doing this for the rest of our lives. You have to realise your potential.

"Years and years ago, when I worked at the hospital, I used to see physiotherapists and occupational therapists there, and bearing in mind we were cleaners, I would think to myself that's what I want to do."

They set up the sandwich shop after being made redundant and while they will miss the customers, they're looking forward to new challenges.

"We took a chance and opened the shop with £1,500, buying everything second hand. On our first day of business we completely sold out," said Gaynor.

"The business has gone from strength to strength and we've turned it into a limited company and bought the building.

"But we've got people coming in and thinking we are shutting down because it's gone downhill. That's not the case but we are selling and going on to other things.

"We will really miss the people, we have a lot to thank them for, but going to university is a dream come true."