WHEN Jo Griffith decided she had had enough of working in a garage, she did something about it.

And three years later she has landed her dream job as permanent custodian of one of the most beautiful properties in the country, Mount Grace Priory near Northallerton.

Jo, 26, used to work in the customer service department of a garage in her home county of Leicestershire but always yearned to do something different.

Three years ago the opportunity came up when she applied successfully for a post at Ashby-de-la-Zouch Castle.

Now, after a winter spent working at Fountains Abbey, she has taken up her new post at Mount Grace Priory and could not be happier.

She said yesterday: "It is such a tranquil and beautiful place and exactly the sort of thing I have wanted to do for a long time."

Her new job involves looking after the visitors and the site to make sure that everything runs smoothly at the historic property, whose upkeep is the responsibility of English Heritage.

"It's something different every day and I just love it," she said.