A NORTH-EAST college has won a national award for using drama to promote health and safety.

Stockton Riverside College beat nearly 2,000 other organisations to win the European Week for Safety and Health at Work Award.

Organisations from public and private sectors had to come up with original ideas for getting the safety message across to win the award.

Judges were impressed with the imagination shown by the college's performing arts students.

The young performers encouraged fellow students to turn out in force to watch when they were told a "flame" was on the loose in their building. In fact, the "flame" was a drama student, and there were four presentations at various locations all based on hazardous substances.

Humorous T-shirts sporting hazardous substance symbols, posters, displays, newsletters, website information and imaginative competitions all helped raise awareness during the week.

David Friery, Stockton Riverside College's health and safety manager, said: "This is the second time in four years the college has received a national award for our efforts during European Week for Safety and Health and reflects our ongoing commitment to this area of work.

"Stockton Riverside College is one of only two Centres of Vocational Excellence for Performing Arts nationally, so it makes sense to apply the outstanding talents of those students to our safety initiatives and in so doing help raise awareness of health and safety among the student body as a whole."

Sujinder Sangha, chief executive at the college, was presented with the award at an awards dinner in London.