A PET lover has landed her dream job, caring for cats at a luxury hotel.

Michelle Wright, 20, from Sherburn Village, Durham, completed her BTEC National Diploma in animal care last year but was unable to find a job.

She asked Jean Gillespie, the owner of the Rainton Gate Luxury Cat Hotel, if she could work at the centre as a volunteer.

Her Jobcentre personal adviser, Irene Edgar, mentioned the possibility of her being taken on permanently through the New Deal scheme, which helps unemployed people find work.

Following discussions between Ms Gillespie and the Jobcentre, Ms Wright was employed as a part-time assistant.

Now she is delighted to be indulging her lifelong passion for animals by working as a paid member of staff at Rainton Gate.

Ms Wright said: "The job is fantastic. I've always loved animals and have wanted to work with them since I was small.

"Everything I've done has always been focused on doing this kind of thing."

Ms Gillespie said: "Michelle is a great find - she's excellent at her job and is tremendous with the pets.

"I'm providing on-site accredited training for Michelle so she can obtain the Feline Advisory Bureau in Practical Cattery Management.

"And a training grant is helping to pay for driving lessons so that she can collect and return cats after their break."