A budding mechanic with oil on his hands and a glint of ambition in his eyes has joined the careers fast track after bagging a top apprentice accolade.

Tim Manning of Flookburgh overtook more than 30 of his classmates to win best First Year Apprentice Award at Lancaster Training Services for his outstanding work with spanner and wrench.

The 19-year-old's skills even took his Grange-over-Sands employers by surprise when he came along for a trial 18 months ago.

Proprietor of Yewbarrow Garage, Grange, Andrew Baddily said Tim was already working to a standard way above his years.

Mr Baddily said: "He came along one Saturday morning. No sooner than I had given him a job to do then it was finished. I checked it all and it was fine. He has gone on from there. The jobs he is doing now are what a skilled man would be doing."

Tim, who picked up his skills helping out his dad and taking part in banger racing, said he couldn't remember a time when he hadn't been interested in cars.

"I have been doing this all my life just about. When I finish my course I want to work full time as a mechanic."

Now a second year NVQ student, Tim is released from his studies in mechanical maintenance and repair one day a week to work at Yewbarrow Garage.

Tutors said they chose the former Cartmel Priory student as their top apprentice due to a combination of attendance, attitude and ability.

April 24, 2003 11:30