A woman has been given a second chance of becoming a nurse after her dad died.

Lauren Taylor, 24, from Weymouth, always dreamt of studying to become a nurse and was even offered a place at Bournemouth University.

But when her dad David Taylor was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, she gave up her dream to care for him up until his death at the age of 45.

She said: “My dad would often joke and call me, nurse Taylor.

"I was predicted good results in my A-levels and my dad was anxious my potential should not go to waste. He always insisted I should go and do my nursing and made me promise I would, he would tell me to reach for the stars and never give up.”

Without A levels, her career in care started as a support worker at a residential care home.

She began work at the Kingsley Healthcare run Queen Charlotte Nursing Home in Chickerell, and within two years became a duty manager.

She continued her rise from care coordinator to head of care.

She said: “I still wanted to study nursing, but now with my young daughter Bella to support, I could not see how it might be possible until I talked it through with our operations manager Georgina Dennison and with encouragement from my home manager Christine Gurr.

Following that conversation, Kingsley has agreed to support and guide Lauren through her training while continuing to work at The Queen Charlotte and granting her paid study leave each week while she does her four-year nursing degree with the Open University.

This will enable her to study, while supporting her daughter. Lauren feels confident her mentors within Kingsley Healthcare at The Queen Charlotte will guide her to complete her degree and become a good nurse.

She said: “I am so grateful to Kingsley for this opportunity and I must thank my mum Kerry Cross and my stepdad Wayne Cross for their unerring support and for consistently encouraging me to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse. Without them I would not be doing this.”

Miss Taylor, who starts her university studies in January with the help of a student loan, said when she qualifies as a nurse she would like to continue caring for those who are elderly and living with dementia.

“It is a privilege to be able to support people at the end of their life, supporting their families as much as them,” she said.

“I know how it feels. I am passionate about good practice and caring for people with dignity and respect.”

Ms Dennison said: “There is a national shortage of nurses and at Kingsley we are pleased to be able to support our own staff and to help them as they develop and progress into a career that they have always wanted. To support Lauren while she fulfils her dream of becoming a registered nurse will be an honour and something that all of the team are proud to be part of. Plus at the end of the four years we will have a trained nurse to join the team.”