TWO North-East university lecturers have been honoured with national teaching awards.

Caroline Walker-Gleaves, from Sunderland University, and Professor Ben Knights, from Teesside University, will each receive £50,000 to fund special projects after winning a National Teaching Fellowship Scheme award.

Ms Walker-Gleaves is a principal lecturer in the School of Education and teaches information communication technology, and technology education.

She said she was surprised but pleased to win the award.

"I really care about the students, and I love my subjects," she said.

Colleagues and students were invited to nominate one member of staff for the award. The final 20 teachers were selected from 86 applications across the UK.

George Shield, director of the School of Education at Sunderland, said yesterday: "One of the most inspiring aspects of her work is her ability to enthuse staff and students alike to do well, and give them the confidence to try ideas and teaching methods beyond the mundane."

Ms Walker-Gleaves proposes to use the money in a project that will look at the best ways to encourage youngsters to stay in higher education and succeed.

Prof Knights, who is Professor of English and Cultural Studies at Teesside, will use his funding to develop a project which looks at the concept of active reading in teaching English to students from different cultures.

The pair will be presented with their prizes at an awards dinner, in London, on Tuesday, July 10.