A PETERLEE factory worker has become the first person in County Durham to pass an online certificate in numeracy.

Walkers Snack Foods employee Danny Wilcox, from Horden, has achieved a level two numeracy qualification, equivalent to a GCSE, through learndirect.

The 27-year-old production technician said: "Maths was always one of my weaker subjects at school and it is great to finally get a qualification under my belt."

Mr Wilcox has been studying with help from the learndirect resource centre opened at the Walkers factory last autumn.

Learndirect is the UK's largest tutor supported e-learning network which provides a wide range of flexible online courses at all levels.

The 450 employees at Walkers have round-the-clock access to the new learndirect resource centre.

Centre manager, Geoff Spuhler said: "I've been blown away by people's enthusiasm. Over ten per cent of employees signed up in the first four weeks and it has developed from there."

Diane Morris, of Walkers, who set up the centre said: "We wanted to create a comfortable atmosphere that would encourage people to learn, raise their aspirations, benefit their everyday lives and give them extra skills in the workplace.