A FAMILY support scheme is celebrating its fifth anniversary.

SureStart in Middlesbrough celebrated the milestone with an awards night at the town's Teaching and Learning Centre, for 30 parents who had completed courses and contributed to their community.

One such parent was Julia Healy who did a SureStart first-aid course which helped save her toddler son's life.

Days after completing the classes, Ms Healy's two-year-old son Kyle - now five - choked on a two pence piece.

She said: "I put him on my knee and started slapping him between his shoulder blades as I was taught. Eventually it worked and the 2p came up."

TV agony aunt and writer Denise Robertson presented awards to the winners in each of the six SureStart centres.