STUDENTS who have overcome a number of personal or health problems to achieve success at college have been rewarded at a celebration evening.

More than 70 people attended the event, at New College, Durham, to mark the achievements of students on the Entry to Employment (e2e) course.

Three "You Can Do It" awards - sponsored by B&Q - were presented to teenage students.

Jonathan Milbourne, 18, received the Best Attendance award after missing only one day in more than a year.

The award for Outstanding Achievement went to 19-year-old Marc Bell, who, with the support of the college, his family and his own determination, overcame severe dyslexia to win a place on the college's carpentry and joinery apprenticeship scheme.

Finally, 18-year-old David Preece was presented with the Learner of the Year award for his outstanding performance in progressing to the college's BTEC First Diploma course in Information Technology.

In addition, learners from the college's Shotton centre were presented with awards supplied by the East Durham Partnership. Amy Best received the outstanding Achievement award and Kimberley Snowdon achieved a double coup by picking up the Learner of the Year award and Best Attendance award.

The e2e programme is a work-based learning course which provides training for 16 to 18-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training.

Stephanie Clark, head of work-based learning at the college, said: "Our e2e programme equips learners with skills that act as a springboard into employment or indeed further educational training programmes. New College Durham was delighted to host the Celebration of Achievement evening, celebrating the hard work and determination of our learners."