FOUR members of staff at a residential nursing home are celebrating after passing their exams.

Langley Park Nursing Home, near Durham City, encourages staff to work for professional qualifications.

Manager Pauline Waite said: "When most people come to work here they have a basic background knowledge of what life is like in a home. We train them, and it is up to them if they want to do more.

"Staff at a lot of places just do NVQ level two, but here we encourage people to take their training further if they want to.

"It gives them a real boost and sets them in good stead for their work."

June Oliver has just completed NVQ level two in care, while Sharon Dodsworth, Lee Barron and Anne Melvin have completed level three.

The nursing home pays for the courses and staff can choose to study a range of subjects, including health and safety, personal hygiene and care of the elderly.