A Teesside woman has proved that engineering isn't just a job for the boys.

Christine Thompson, 24, from Redcar, is an inspiration to other young women hoping to follow a career in science after scooping the Teesside Science and Engineering Award from the University of Teesside.

She picked up the award after receiving a first class honours degree in pure chemistry at the university.

Christine, who works at Synetix, part of the ICI group, in Billingham, is now urging those choosing A-levels or degrees to look at science.

She said: "I've always been interested in science. I suppose growing up in Redcar near the bright lights of the Wilton site naturally drew me to it. Science has given me a career that is interesting, diverse and full of challenges. It's a shame many young people, especially women, are missing out on this sort of success."