AN engineering apprentice from Teesside has won a prestigious national award.

Billingham student Connor Duncan is just five months into his apprenticeship with quarry company Hope Construction Materials and has been named Student of the Year in the Welding Institute awards.

The 19-year-old is based at the company's Coxhoe Quarry near Durham, and at East Durham college at Peterlee.

He said: “This award has come as a big surprise, but I am really proud to have been chosen as the winner and to know my hard work on the course is being recognised."

East Durham College trainer Dion Bowes said: “It is great to see Connor acknowledged for his hard work.

"He is a model student who works very hard and is determined to succeed at the College and in his workplace.”