A NORTH-EAST student will be helping surgeons in hospitals all over the world as part of her work experience.

Alana Simpson, 17, an A-level French student at Stockton's Sixth Form College, Teesside, flies to Strasbourg tomorrow for the college's annual international work-shadowing exchange.

She has gained a place working as an interpreter for a telesurgeon, who uses the latest technology to watch operations being carried out anywhere in the world and gives advice to the medics on-screen.

Alana, of Norton, Stockton, will also visit hospitals and surgeries and she will be staying at the home of a specialist translator who has a 17-year-old daughter at Stockton college's twin school.

Alana said: "As far as I know, the telesurgeon uses a screen to watch operations taking place, though I am not sure that I will be watching the gory bits.

"As I understand it, the placement will also take me into hospitals and surgeries. It should be very interesting."

Alana is one of 11 A-level French students who will be on placement from Stockton college until Monday, October 23.