A BUILDING apprentice from Hartlepool has been praised by his training providers after been crowned the region’s best bricklayer for the second year in a row.

John Rudge, 20, who is working as an apprentice at the construction arm of Hartlepool-based house builder Yuill Homes, has won the gold award in the northern section of the Guild of Bricklayers competition for the second year running.

Rudge, who is currently studying his level two diploma in bricklaying and trowel occupations at Hartlepool College of Further Education, impressed the judges panel by demonstrating the construction of a specialist wall.

He has been gaining on-site experience for the last 12 months, working as an apprentice for Yuill Construction, the Railway Housing Association affordable development scheme at Hillingdon, in Spennymoor.

The development which is scheduled for completion in the autumn, will provide 14 new homes on-site for people aged 55 and over.

Rudge said: “Working as an on-site apprentice has enabled me to put what I have learned at college into practice and has helped me to develop my skills, which I hope will help me to secure employment in the future.