A PRIMARY school teacher from Darwen has been named the North West's best.

Wendy Nunns, of Knowsley Meadows, scooped first place in the regional heats of the 'BT Teacher of the Year' competition. Now she goes into the televised national finals which will be held in London on October 27.

Mum-of-two Wendy beat five other shortlisted teachers. The judges paid tribute to her enthusiasm and commitment to her year two class of six and seven-year-olds.

Wendy, 33, said she was very surprised to win the title and provide her school, Blackrod Primary, in Bolton, with £2,000 and computer equipment.

She has taught there for the whole of her 11-year teaching career and is popular with her colleagues, pupils and parents.

"I love teaching," she said. "I just still love the fact that after 11 years I get a real buzz from teaching. It's a very, very rare that I think I don't want to go to work today. I have never wanted to do anything else."

The school nominated Wendy, and she had to be assessed teaching her class by inspectors to be shortlisted. Staff and pupils then sent off testaments to the judges.

Headteacher Ian Dryburgh, who attended the ceremony at Liverpool Hope University with Wendy, her husband and the chairman of governors, said: "She really was over the moon and very shocked to win the award.

"It was a fantastic event. Mrs Nunns is a lovely person, has tremendous talent and it's a privilege to work with her."