STUDENTS at a North-East college will be getting work experience on their own doorstep with the opening of the college's own travel shop.

Middlesbrough College's travel shop, Coliseum Travel, was officially opened yesterday by David Young, chairman of the City and Guilds of London Institute.

The shop has been set up to provide travel and tourism students at the college with the practical work experience they need to gain levels of competency. It has been praised by the City and Guilds, which awards qualifications to the travel students at the college.

The travel shop is now open to the public to book package holidays, weekend breaks at home and abroad, theatre bookings and rail and coach tickets.

A spokesman from the college said: "It is the only college travel shop in the North-East that is fully ABTA-bonded as a company in its own right, and only one of a handful across the country.

"Coliseum Travel is proving to be a wonderful resource for people to use on their doorstep, but also provides students on our travel and tourism courses with valuable work experience."

Coliseum Travel can be contacted on (01642) 333228.