Furious student Nicola Carter is demanding action after she was told months of hard work had been wasted in a crisis-hit Bradford Council training scheme.

She is making strong representations to Bradford Council, and says she will go right to the top if necessary, over the problems which have hit scores of trainees.

Nicola , 22, of Lesmere Grove, Horton Bank Top, says she has been working for an NVQ qualification in business and administration at the Council training centre in Metrochange House.

She expected to get the qualification at the very latest by Christmas because she has passed the previous exams. But Nicola, an estimating assistant at Cardinal Shopfitters and Systems, said she was devastated when she was told there was more to do and there were problems.

"I never knew anything was wrong and they always indicated to me that things were fine.

"Fortunately I'm not being put under pressure by my employer for this qualification, but other people are. Everything is a mess there and I'm very, very angry.''

Today, Mick Binns, the Council's contract services manager, said he regretted any problems and would do everything possible to help.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the Council's internal auditors are carrying out investigations at Metrochange House, Keighley Training Group, and ITeC and Mitre Court. The alleged irregularities only apply to NVQs. So far 73 people have been told their awards are invalid.

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