A NURSE has won an award for her work helping sick children in North Devon.

Jan Braund set up a two-bed high dependency unit at the district hospital in Barnstaple, meaning fewer children have to travel to Bristol Children's Hospital.

Jan has received the Paul Lock Memorial Prize for her work.

She said: "By having the facility on the children's ward we're in an environment geared-up for children, where the kids are looked after by specialist children's nurses and doctors and have access to play activities."

In addition, a paediatric early-warning system, introduced by Jan, helps staff act quickly if there are signs that a child's condition is worsening.

The Paul Lock Memorial Fund, which sets out to enhance the training and development of medical students, junior doctors and nursing staff in paediatrics, was set up in 2007 in memory of Paul Lock, who was a junior doctor at North Devon District Hospital.