COMMUNICATION at work can be bad at the best of times, but it was sometimes near impossible for Raytheon employees Gary Pound and Karen Thomas until their workmates decided to enrol on a sign language course.

Mr King and Miss Thomas, who are both deaf, were finding it increasingly difficult to communicate with their colleagues at the Harlow firm, so workmate David Loan decided some of the workers should take a course in sign language.

Those who work most closely with Mr King and Miss Thomas signed up for the 30-week course and have already put their new skills to good use by signing at a company briefing.

Mr Loan said: "It was quite difficult learning sign language, rather like learning a foreign language. However, we've already began to see the benefits which learning the skill has had for Gary and Karen, who are now much happier in their work."