Paul Batey left school at 15 ready to start work and forget about education.

Now, more than 15 years later, he has graduated from the University of Teesside with a BSc (Hons) degree in Physiotherapy, and will receive the Beatrice Lamballe prize for best project. Paul has also joined the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough as a physiotherapist.

Father-of-three Paul, 31, from Ingleby Barwick, originally left school in Thornaby and started to train as a gas fitter. He then joined an electronics company in Thornaby, progressing to the role of team leader. But after some years he faced redundancy.

Paul said that at school he was not that motivated, but has since got a real thirst for knowledge.