A TEENAGER who left school with no qualifications has been named County Award Winner at the Regional Adult Learners' Awards.

Diane Appleyard, 17, from Consett, said being presented with glassware and a certificate by Children's Laureate Anne Fine was the proudest moment of her life.

She left school two years' ago with no qualifications feeling that she had no future and no prospects.

In a nine month period however, Diane took the opportunity to work with Derwentside Training and made huge strides to achieve four national qualifications: adult literacy level two, adult numeracy level one, food hygiene certificate from the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health and manual handling certificate from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.