A FORMER NHS nurse who set out in business on her own has celebrated the first anniversary of her thriving health firm.

Champagne corks popped as Sheila Flood, from Chester-le-Street, marked a successful year in business as Number One Priority Health Care at its office on the Prospect Business Park, Leadgate, near Consett.

A former nurse at Dryburn Hospital, Durham, she left the NHS in 1978 to have a baby and never went back.

After 23 years working for others companies in the private sector, she set up on her own last year, aiming to capture the growing North-East market of occupational health care. It is the only business of its kind in north-west Durham.

"We go into companies and other organisations and make sure they comply with a range of issues, from health and safety at work to coping with stress," she said.

"It started off just me doing everything and grew very quickly. Now there are five of us."