STAFF at a North-East university have picked up the UK's top award for advancing women's work in academia.

The University of Sunderland has won the Athena Swan (Scientific Women's Academic Network) Charter Award, recognising the university's commitment to the advancement and promotion of the careers of women in science, engineering and technology.

The award was presented to the dean of the university's School of Computing and Technology, Professor Peter Smith, by Lord Rees, president of the Royal Society.

A university spokesman said: "We were one of only two new universities to win the award, which demonstrates we are making practical changes to address gender imbalance in higher education in five key areas.

"These include changing culture and gender balance in decision-making and tackling processes and structures which may present barriers to the progression of women."

Sunderland has a history of advancing women's work.

Hope Winch was appointed as the first full-time lecturer in pharmacy at Sunderland Technical College in 1921 and went on to found one of the country's first pharmacy departments, in 1930.