A TEAM of apprentices from Darlington were the champions in a challenge which involved a range of physical and mental tasks.

The town will now host next year's Tees Valley Apprenticeship challenge after returning home victorious.

The event, at Middlesbrough Sports Village, was to mark National Apprenticeship Week 2019 last week and involved apprentices from across the Tees Valley areas doing battle in a series of gruelling mental and physical challenges.

The challenge put them to the test in relay contests, team building exercises and sprinting events.

It tested their powers of communication as well as mental and physical stamina.

Darlington Borough Council apprentices were the overall winners of the event and will now host next year’s challenge.

The council's Learning & Skills department celebrated Apprenticeship Week with a variety of different activities and spent time promoting the positive impacts of employing apprentices to local employers.

A drop-in event at Darlington Town Hall allowed companies to find out more about apprenticeships.

Darlington Borough Council Learning & Skills offers a range of Level 2, 3 and 5 Apprenticeships in Business Administration, Customer Service, Site Joinery, Motor Vehicle, Early Years, Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools, Care and Residential Childcare.

For more information, please contact Learning & Skills on (01325) 405601 or l&s@darlington.gov.uk.

Also see the website on www.darlington.gov.uk/education-and-learning/learning-skills/