SIXTEEN students have been recognised for outstanding achievement and excelling in their specialist areas of engineering.

Austin McNamara, executive director of County Durham's Learning and Skills Council, presented the Advanced Modern Apprentices with certificates of achievement at Derwentside College's presentation day.

Local companies who have been involved with the apprentices' training, attended the ceremony with students' family and colleagues.

Also there were John Hodgson, John Lyle and Robert Leech, representatives of Derwentside Engineering Forum, who have played a vital role in profiling the role of engineering within the area.

Albert Croney, vice-principal of curriculum, introduced the presentation, by congratulating the apprentices on achieving their advanced Modern Apprenticeship qualifications.

The students completed NVQs 2 and 3 in fabrication and welding, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering, as well as City and Guilds' Qualifications and 5 Key Skills.

Mr Croney said: "The Modern Apprenticeships that these young people have followed has placed great emphasis on obtaining skilled competence, through the acquisition of NVQs and underpinning knowledge.

"I would like to officially recognise the tremendous amount of support and encouragement that they have received from their company placements and the staff at Derwentside College.

"The students who are being presented are in the vanguard of sustaining and developing the skills base within Derwentside."