Fifth Doctor actor Peter Davison swapped the Tardis for a South Tyneside taxi during a whistle-stop tour of the region.

The former All Creatures Great and Small star was a guest of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), to promote the help available for businesses in the region to boost the skills of their staff as part of its Train to Gain drive.

Peter was ferried from Newcastle Airport by South Shields taxi firm Dial A Cab, which has been putting its drivers through their paces with courses provided by Prima Training.

Fifteen cabbies have so far completed training in emergency aid, manual handling, safety, disability awareness, equality and diversity and hazard awareness, with a further 20 going through the process at the moment.

"Regularly updating workers' skills is vital to the success of organisations, both large and small," said Peter.

"It boosts employee motivation, staff retention and recruitment as well as helping a business achieve its goals."

Peter was accompanied by LSC spokesman Michael Mitchell, who explained the thinking behind the government-backed Train to Gain.

"It is all about making businesses more competitive and more productive," he said.

Train to Gain provides a complete service, reviewing a business' skills gaps and helping to organise the training needed to tackle them, with Government cash available to help employees get onto the training ladder.

"I think some businesses understand what help is available out there, but the vast majority do not," said Mr Mitchell.

"What they really need is a service like Train to Gain, that gives them a one-stop shop to go to."

For more information about how Train To Gain can help visit www.traintogain.gov.uk or call 0800 015 55 45.

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