NURSE Jay Abraham would have had the perfect excuse if she had been late on the first day of her new job -- she had to travel 5,000 miles to get there.

But with a 12-hour trip on three aeroplanes ahead of her, the globetrotting 33-year-old set off three weeks early to make sure she arrived on time.

Jay made the mammoth trek from her home in India, where she moved to be with her Indian husband, to start her new career caring for the elderly at Springhill Care Home.

Before she switched continents she could walk to her work at a hospital in Kerala, which was just 10 minutes from her home.

Jay started at the home, in Fairfield Street, Accrington, four weeks ago after securing the post through an agency in Manchester.

"I wanted a better experience as a nurse," she said. "There's a lot of difference. The equipment is better here, everything is available to give the patient care."

With three years training at Bangalore Medical College behind her, and a wealth of experience in intensive care, medical, surgical and cardiac departments, Jay has had no problem settling in.

But she will still have to spend several months working as an auxiliary nurse until she has completed a Nursing and Midwifery Council adaptation programme.

Although Jay admits it was a wrench leaving her family she is hoping to be joined by husband Sino, 34, who works for an Indian shipping company and their five-year-old daughter Neha in the spring.

"It has been hard leaving them but we speak on the phone every few days," she said.

Manager Kath Parkinson said: "There is a serious national shortage of qualified nurses so we are always on the look-out for suitable staff. We were extremely impressed with Jay's professional experience and references and had no hesitation in offering her a post.

"She's been with us for four weeks now and has settled in well."