FORMER Northern Echo reporter Sarah Gatenby took time out from her new job in television to open a disability awareness day exhibition.

Returning to where she started her journalism career in Bishop Auckland, Sarah declared the event, in the Optimum Centre at Bishop Auckland College, open.

Exhibition organiser, Anne Cowie, from the Wear Valley Disability Access Forum, said: "Sarah was brilliant. She went around and spoke to everyone and is actually pictured on our display.''

The Tyne Tees news reporter once spent the day with disabled members from the forum when she worked for the Northern Echo. She was wheeled around in a wheelchair in Crook and now features in promotion photographs.

The exhibition itself was hailed a success, with many disabled people gaining access to facilities they did not know existed.

Mrs Cowie said: "We have achieved what we set out to do and that is to provide in one venue, all day, all the information and advice for people with physical disabilities and sight impairments. A lot of people have found it very, very useful."