A HARTLEPOOL student is to be crowned the region's most promising apprentice.

Peter Bamford, 20, is one of just three trainees from the North East who will be honoured at a ceremony in Durham next month, where the overall trainee of the year will be announced.

Peter, who lives at the Fens, is currently studying for a Level 3 in Mechanical Fitting at Hartlepool College of Further Education whilst working as an apprentice fitter at Seymour Civil Engineering Contractors Ltd in the town.

He was put forward for the Civil Engineering Contractors’ Association (North East) Most Promising Apprentice Award by his employers, who believe he is a shining light in the workplace.

Jan Elliott, Training Manager at Seymour CEC, said: “It is a delight to have Peter working here. He has been with us for 18 months now and integrated himself into the company from day one.

“He has a real interest in mechanics and even spent his holidays finding out how old steam engines work.

“We needed Peter to come in and pretty much hit the ground running and thanks to the hard work he continues to put in at Hartlepool College of Further Education, he was able to do just that. He's an asset to this company and we are delighted he has won this award.”

Peter works at Seymour's Hartlepool yard at the town's Marina, servicing the company's heavy plant vehicles and fleet vans.

He said: “I wasn't expecting the award but it is nice to get recognised for doing a good job. My dad had motorbikes when I was younger, so I grew up around engines and have always wanted to work in mechanics.

“The apprenticeship I am doing is great as it means everything I learn on my day release at College can be put into practice when I get to the yard.”

Peter will receive his award at a ceremony at the Royal County Hotel, Durham on April 2, and will go up against the winner of the Trainee Civil Engineer and Trainee Quality Surveyor categories to find out who has won the overall North East Trainee of the Year Award.