The great granddaughter of the cousin of Sir Alexander Fleming - the scientist who discovered penicillin - has said she hopes to follow in her ancestor's footsteps after achieving a top flight of GCSE results.

Flo Fleming gained A grades in biology and chemistry and an A* in physics and says she is inspired by her relative to continue studying the sciences.

The 16-year-old pupil at Brighton College said: "I feel very good.

"I have always known he was amazing, that he invented penicillin and saved so many lives, I've always been so amazed by it. I really hope I can be like him."

Flo said she now planned to go on to study A-Levels in physics, chemistry or biology, maths and business studies.

She said: "I really want to go down the science route."

Flo, who lives in Chichester, West Sussex, also gained A grades in English literature, geography, music, PE and Spanish and a B in English language.

Born in 1881 in Ayrshire, Scotland, Alexander Fleming revolutionised the world of medicine when he accidentally discovered the bacteria-killing properties of a mould substance which he identified as the penicillium genus which he named penicillin on March 7 1929.

He said of his discovery: "When I woke up just after dawn on September 28, 1928, I certainly didn't plan to revolutionise all medicine by discovering the world's first antibiotic, or bacteria killer. But I suppose that was exactly what I did."

This article was edited on 21 September 2015 to change the relationship between Flo Fleming and Alexander Fleming from 'great grandaughter' to 'great grandaughter of cousin'.