A DYSLEXIC teenager who was thrown out of school has fought back against the odds to land a job and a secure future.

Philip Profit, 18, has been employed by Derwentside District Council, which is giving 300 free computers to families in South Moor, Craghead and South Stanley, in County Durham, to improve education.

Philip, from Craghead, is one of five recruits who will install and service the computers.

But only a few years ago, a "proper job" was a distant dream for him. He was diagnosed with dyslexia two years ago after a lifetime of frustration and low self-esteem. He said: "I thought I was thick and would never achieve anything.

"I could not keep up with others in my class, so I would play up to get attention. I was labelled a bad lad and could see no reason to prove them all wrong."

The turnaround came when he was thrown out of school and sent to the Impact project, in Chester-le-Street, where one-to-one teaching helped rebuild his confidence and prove that he was, in fact, clever and had a bright future.

He left Impact with a GNVQ in information technology and found he had a talent with computers. He said: "I have turned my life around and found a job doing what I love most.

"For so many years, no one believed I would achieve anything, but I have proved them all wrong."

The other recruits are Michaela Coulson, 29, of Craghead, Jamie Stokel, 21, of Shield Row, Michael Taylor, 21, of West Hills, and Ryan Darwood, 19, of South Moor.