A university cleaner has graduated with a degree in classics after combining his work duties with a study programme for 14 years.

Gac Filipaj, 52, was feted by fellow students and dons at Columbia University as he received the award 20 years after he fled war-torn Yugoslavia.

When he arrived in New York in 1992 he could not speak English and spent the next five years learning the language.

His role as a cleaner at the prestigious Ivy League university meant he qualified for free study hours and was able to work on getting a degree.