A STEPFATHER and his stepson have been awarded the same degree from the University of Teesside after three years of study.

Ian Brelsford and Tony Standing, both from Redcar, have both been awarded BA (Hons) degrees in history.

Mr Standing, 26, was first to sign up for the history degree. He completed two years of a business management degree before deciding to switch courses.

He said: "History was something that always interested me when I was at secondary school, we had a fascinating teacher who delivered the subject of the Russian revolution with such enthusiasm.

"I was a bit surprised when Ian enrolled on the degree, it was a last-minute decision. We studied most of our modules together, it was good to have someone to bounce ideas off.

"It took the lecturers a while to realise the family connection, but they treated us very much as individuals."

Mr Standing will begin a postgraduate course in September, with the aim of qualifying as a secondary school history teacher.

Mr Brelsford, 55, said: "Although Tony and I worked in the same room, we wrote completely different essays."

His wife and Mr Standing's mother, Sheena, 48, said: "I'm very proud of them both.'' She has now enrolled on a BSc (Hons) degree in Computer Studies at the same Middlesbrough university.