DURHAM City Council is launching its first apprentice scheme in over a decade to tackle a shortage of skilled building workers.

The authority plans to take on four youngsters this September who will be trained over three years as plumbers and electricians.

The first council apprentices in 12 years, they will work in the building services section which maintains the city's stock of 8,000 council houses.

Smaller authorities such as Durham had to abandon apprenticeships because of the competitive tendering regime introduced by the Tory government, which focused on contract costs.

Because of the national shortage of skilled tradesmen, the council has had to use agency workers or sub-contractors.

But surveys have shown that tenants are more satisfied if work on their home is done by council employees.

David Marrs, the council's director of community services, said: "There are national shortages in certain key trades, like electricians, and you can't get a gas trained plumber for love nor money.

"This is something I have wanted to achieve for ten years and we are now trading so well that we can sustain it.''

Mr Marrs said that satisfaction surveys had shown that tenants were happier when jobs were done by council employees rather than agency employees or subcontractors.

"Most of our work is carried out in people's homes. All staff must not only be skilled but also customer-focused and trustworthy. This takes a special sort of person and we have found that using agencies or sub-contractors is not the answer. The best solution is to "grow our own''.

Two apprentices will train as plumbers - including gas maintenance, a service the council is seeking a Charter Mark for - and the other two as electricians.

They will work towards NVQ3 and will get training in-house and at New College Durham and will take health and safety and customer care courses.

Mr Marrs said he hoped to offer the apprentices full-time permanent jobs at the end of the training.

"I wouldn't say there will be an annual intake of apprentices but I wouldn't rule it out.

"We will evaluate it as we go. We are over the moon that members have agreed the principle of the scheme.''