A NORTH-EAST prison is the first in the country to award a national qualification in assembly line skills.

Inmates at Durham Prison can study for NVQ level two in machine assembly processing skills in the prison's contract service workshop, which is a manufacturing shop involved mainly in contract packing.

Contract service work has been regarded throughout the prison service as simple and unskilled, but Durham felt it warranted qualification.

One prisoner has already achieved the qualification and two others have enrolled on the course. Inmates complete portfolios of different units, including machining skills, product assembly and packaging.

Studying for NVQs is considered to be a major development in the rehabilitation of prisoners.