NURSERY nurses in a North-East town are to demonstrate against their low pay.

The nurses, from Darlington, are angry with the borough council which, they claim, is not taking their pay and re-grading claims seriously.

The nurses work in schools to provide early years education and to support pupils of all ages with special needs.

To bring their dispute to the public's attention, the nurses will be holding a rally on Saturday, December 2, in Darlington town centre, and will assemble at the town's Stanhope Park at 11am.

The nursery nurses lodged their claim in March for re-grading to provide a careers structure that would reward them.

To date, they claim there has been only one meeting with council managers.

Unison, the union representing them, claims this was "unproductive, with any decision to be made on their claim postponed, till the Best Value review is completed and if there are finances available".

Mary Francis, a nursery nurse employed by the council, said: "We do a good job providing quality early years education for the children of Darlington, we are dedicated staff and we should be adequately rewarded.

"I hope the demonstration will show the council we mean business."

Alan Docherty, branch secretary of Unison in Darlington, said: "The role of a nursery nurse has changed significantly over the years, with some now carrying out duties close to that of teachers."

Geoff Pennington, director of education at Darlington Borough Council, said: "We recognise the contribution that nursery nurses make to schools."

Nursery nurses are qualified to and above NVQ level three standard, and have enhanced skills through experience.

Their pay scale runs from £9,852 to £12,444 per annum, and it can take ten years to get to the top of the scale.

A teacher leaving college is likely to have a starting salary of £15,000 to £16,000 per annum