An east London teenager has achieved top GCSE grades and is on her way to becoming a doctor - despite also being a carer for her parents.

Cother Nada Toba, from Forest Gate, has scored mostly 8 and 9 grades in her GCSEs - equivalent to high As and A*s - even though she has had to fit her studies around caring for her parents.

The Forest Gate Community School student hopes to become a doctor, inspired by her father's condition.

Her mum was born blind, while her dad developed Parkinson's around six years ago.

Cother wanted to "make her parents proud" with her GCSEs.

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She said: "My success is down to a lot of hard work.

"I wanted to get these grades to make my parents proud.

"I was highly motivated to do well so I can go into medicine and specifically the field of neurology."

She added: "When my dad's condition starts to deteriorate, I was doing a lot of research, and after going to appointments with my dad, I just want to do research to help my dad and other people with Parkinson’s."

Cother also had to help out with caring for her older brother - who was born blind too - when she was growing up.

Cother wants to become a doctor so she can help people with Parkinson'sCother wants to become a doctor so she can help people with Parkinson's (Image: Forest Gate Community School)

The 16-year-old said: "My mum was born blind, so my childhood was different to other people.

"The first word I learnt was step, my mum always had to look out for steps.

"I grew up having to care for my parents. My oldest brother was also born blind so he needs help as well."

She hasn't let her "different" childhood stop her though - and believes it has made her even more "resilient".

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Cother said: "I know it’s a lot to go through but I never think, why me, or it’s unfair. I see these experience as building strength."

The Forest Gate teen has applied to study biology, chemistry, maths and psychology at Newham Collegiate Sixth Form in September.

She thanked her current school for their "great support".

Cother said: "They've been really understanding of my situation.

"They've been really supportive. Honestly, especially during the GCSE period, they were really understanding and helpful."