A NORTH-EAST man has battled against a disease of the nervous system to climb up the managerial ladder at a fast-food restaurant.

Darren Styles was recently promoted to floor manager at the McDonald's restaurant in Thinford, near Spennymoor.

The promotion followed the successful completion of a Foundation Modern Apprenticeship in Hospitality Quick Service.

What makes Darren's achievement even more special is that he obtained his qualification despite suffering from neuro-fibromitosis, a disease of the nervous system which can have a major impact on development and memory.

Darren, 20, who lives in Newton Aycliffe, also has additional learning needs and in the past this has led to a lack of self-belief.

Darren's training consultant, Nicky Lawrence, who works at Protocol Skills' Durham centre, said he worked extra hard to get his qualification in such a quick space of time. He also received support from the Protocol Skills centre in York.

She said: "Most people do their training in the workplace, but in Darren's case he also used to come in regularly to the Protocol Skills office in Durham to do the work.

"He was very eager and this made my job a lot easier. Darren is a fine young man and everyone at Protocol Skills is delighted with the success he has had."

McDonalds' is just one of the 10,000 businesses whose employees receive training from Protocol Skills, which also has offices in Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Newcastle and Blyth