Former Bishop Barrington student, Christopher Lonsdale, 21, who was crowned best plumber at the national Skill Plumb awards in November, is a step closer to competing in the World Skills competition in Canada.

Christopher, who was crowned best plumber at the national Skill Plumb awards in November, has been selected for the UK squad after a three day selection process in Birmingham. The final line-up for the team will be announced in June.

“I’m over the moon to have been picked,” said Christopher. “I have worked really hard to get this far, but I know that there is still a lot more to do. It would be amazing to compete against the best plumbers in the world.”

After leaving Bishop Barrington School in 2003, he studied for his plumbing apprenticeship at New College in Durham. He now works for B-Warm Ltd.

The World Skills competition takes place in Calgary from September 1-7. The event is the pinnacle of excellence in skilled trades and technologies training. Around 1,000 competitors from 50 countries will take part.