Cambridge-bound Cole

Supermodel Lily Cole is to hang up her Size 0 glad-rags and head back to education after a slightly longer than average gap year.

The red-haired model has put her place at Kings College, Cambridge on hold to pursue contracts with some of the biggest names in fashion.

What started as a gap year job, turned into a full-blown career for the 19-year-old who ended up deferring entry for two years.

Lily, who turns 20 later this week, told the Daily Mail that 2008 will be the year she eventually picks up her books - but only after spending the summer in front of the camera.

"I'm focusing on modelling this summer, then I start at Cambridge. I'm really excited. It will be a big change, but I can't wait," she said.

After being spotted at 14, Lily went straight onto the catwalk at London Fashion week, before working with Marks & Spencer and appearing in the St Trinian's film.

Her decision to take up her Cambridge offer follows the end of filming of Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium Of Dr Parnassus - which she was working on alongside the late Heath Ledger.