A PHARMACIST who was struck off five years ago after leaving unqualified staff to dispense medicine while he went on holiday abroad, was restored to the register yesterday.

Wai Man Yong, 52, registered at Corby Hall Drive, Sunderland, was making his third application to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Geoffrey Hudson, for the society, said: "The first application was said by the committee to be far too soon for what was described as 'just about the worst case we have ever come across'."

Mr Yong had been struck off in October 1996