A HOSPITAL decorator has set down her paints and roller to brush up on new skills with the NHS.

Rahilla Orr has started work as a therapy assistant at the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, working in rooms she has decorated over the past nine years.

Mrs Orr worked as an in-house painter and decorator before deciding on a change of scene.

Instead of slapping on the emulsion, the 25-year-old now divides her time between physiotherapy and occupational health, helping physiotherapists fit splints and measure patients for walking sticks.

"I really felt like I needed to do something different and was ready for a change, though I still love painting,'' she said.

"I was doing some voluntary work for physiotherapy and loved it. Then I saw the job advert and thought I'll give this a go.

"I love working in a hospital environment and didn't want to go anywhere else.

"I get a great deal of job satisfaction."