BRICKLAYER Tom Hirst has cemented his place in the country's top 20.

Tom, 18, has been building a reputation as a brilliant brickie and is now in the top three in Yorkshire.

He gained the third place in a contest to find Yorkshire's best apprentices - run by the Guild of Bricklaying.

He travelled to the Leeds School of Building along with other hopefuls and had to build a complex piece of brickwork.

Tom, of Meadow Lane, Cononley, said: "We were given a model and we had to build that to the Guild's standards.I had about six hours to complete the work."

Tom is studying for an NVQ level two in bricklaying at Keighley College and he works for the family business of David Hirst Builders and Joiners.

His third place earned him a tankard, trowel and £25 cash.

Tom's college tutor Mark Curtis said the contest win put him in the top 20 in the UK, and is the highest ever placed Keighley College bricklaying student.

"It's brilliant because he's entered the competition a year earlier than normal - it's really for third year students," said Mark. "Tom's a smashing lad, always gets on with the job and his practical work is excellent."

Mr Curtis revealed that the Guild's competition was extremely tough. "What they're looking to produce is the best bricklayers in the country," he added.