TWO engineering trainees have joined a select group of young people to achieve all three Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Lewis Meadows, 18, from Eston, and Joe Atkinson, 19, from Normanby, both near Middlesbrough, were recently presented their gold awards by the Duke of Edinburgh in London to complete their hat-trick of accolades.

It is not unusual for young people working towards the Duke of Edinburgh Awards to complete all three levels, but Lewis and Joe have spent the last two years achieving the bronze, silver and gold awards.

Both are currently working towards industry-sponsored TTE apprenticeships and have fitted their Duke of Edinburgh activities around their vocational training.

Lewis is currently on a laboratory technicians apprenticeship, sponsored by BASF at Seal Sands.

Jooe is on a young scientists apprenticeship, sponsored by Billingham-based Johnson Matthey.

Ken Richards, TTE Young Scientists Programme Assessor, said: "This is a fantastic achievement for the lads and highlights the quality of young people we work with.

"They both very talented and motivated and employers we work with are always looking for who have a broad range of skills and qualifications."