A NORTH-EAST vet could find himself in the unlikely position of joining the likes of Daniel Day-Lewis and Chiwetel Ejiofor in winning a high-profile award.

Jason Atherton, of Value Vets, in Darlington, acted as an advisor on the recent children's TV programme Junior Vets, which has been nominated for a Bafta award.

The nomination is in the factual category, along with such mainstays of the TV schedule as Newsround, with the awards ceremony due to take place on November 23.

Mr Atherton, 40, is a director of Westway Veterinary Group, which took over Value Vets earlier this year.

He was approached by programme makers True North Productions after previously helping them on Animal Rescue Squad on Channel 5.

Part of the filming for Junior Vets – hosted by One Show personality Alex Riley – took place at Lightwater Valley, near Ripon, where Mr Atherton advised young animal enthusiasts about looking after the attraction's collection of rheas, an emu-like bird which is native to South America.

Mr Atherton was joined by veterinary nurses Billie-Jo Duncan and Amber Davison, who both work for Westway.

He said: "It was great fun being involved in the programme.

"The producer, who I had worked with before, had a seed of an idea for a programme and I discussed how he could carry it through

"Rheas are potentially quite dangerous, as they can kick, so it was important to catch them safely and help the youngsters during the day's filming."