A WOMAN who qualified in nursery nursing in north Durham has been appointed to a top position her company.

The directors of Ashfield Nurseries and Early Learning Centre Ltd, owners and operators of three nurseries on Tyneside, have appointed 28-year-old Jill Westgarth, of South Shields, as regional manager.

Ms Westgarth had been manager of the nursery in Stanhope Road, South Shields since 2002.

She said: "The Stanhope Road nursery was my first managerial appointment at my first attempt and it was a dream come true.

"This new promotion and the challenges it offers is even more exciting as the company has ambitious plans for expansion.

"New locations are currently under scrutiny in several parts of the North-East.

"As these investment projects come to fruition it will mean new responsibilities which I can't wait to tackle."

Ms Westgarth comes from Consett, where her parents still live. She qualified at Derwentside College in the Btec National Diploma in Nursery Nursing and began her career at a nursery in Swalwell.

The company is awaiting planning permission for a fourth nursery in Middlesbrough.