A NURSERY which trained all its staff to ensure children can be happy, be healthy and get well soon has picked up a special award.

Television presenter and paediatrician Dr Ranj Singh hosted an event at Shotley Bridge Nursery School, near Consett, to celebrate it gaining Millie's Mark accreditation on Saturday.

The award recognises the paediatric first aid training given to all staff.

The Northern Echo:

The award was set up in memory of nine-month-old Millie Thompson, who died in 2012 after choking on food at her Manchester nursery.

Millie's dad Dan Thompson, also at the event, said the potentially lifesaving training was important and he hopes more nurseries and schools take it up.

Laura Bowery, a director at the nursery, said: "We have around 30 staff and they've all been trained and will get refresher training, only the housekeeper and caretaker who aren't on the premises when children are have not been.

"We want the nursery to be the best it can be and Millie's Mark became part of that, we thought our first aid practises were good before but we are now much better and staff will have the knowledge and confidence to know what to do if a child needs help."

The Northern Echo:

Dr Ranj said: "I'm a children and young people's doctor and I am very, very familiar with what this actually means because it is my job and the importance of it resonates with me a lot."

He said 95 percent of adults would not know what to do in an emergency and that choking and accidental strangulation are a leading cause of death for under fours in the UK and proper CPR given in the community can massively improve survival rates in cases of cardiac arrests, which is why the right training and awareness is vital to help save lives.