AN internationally-renowned cancer specialist from Durham has added a doctorate to her string of qualifications.

Faith Gibson, 41, who used to live in Ushaw Moor, was awarded the PhD after completing a course at London's South Bank College.

She attended Ushaw Moor Junior School, Deerness Valley Comprehensive and Durham Johnston School, where she studied for her A-levels, before going to the Queen's Medical Hospital, in Nottingham, where she qualified as a children's nurse.

Mrs Gibson, who is married to Ivan and lives in Herne Hill, London, then specialised in oncology and studied at the Marsdens Hospital for Children's Cancer before moving to Great Ormond Street as a sister.

She gained her MSc and now divides her time between London and abroad, where she visits countries as a specialist lecturer in children's cancer and research.

Her mother Doreen, who still lives in Ushaw Moor, said: "She's always wanted to be a nurse and she didn't want a nine-to-five job.

"The next step will be becoming a professor, and I think she'll get it before she's 50.

"She's very clever, and I'm very proud of her."