Bricklaying tools have been used to help an apprentice reach the finals of a national competition.

Darren Cumming, 19, from West Charleton, is set to take part in the WorldSkills UK Landscape Gardening contest in late September, facing his colleague David Harvey, 20 - among other students - for the title.

According to South Devon's Herald Express, Mr Cumming, who upped bricklayers' tools during the Malvern Spring Gardening Show for the first heat of the challenge, proved his ability by spending six hours building complex spaces with planting, wood and paving.

He finished in the top five out of 26 contenders overall.

As well as ensuring professionals are equipped with the right brick tools, competitions such as this help apprentices pay more attention to detail, one expert suggested.

The Essential Earthmen senior partner Alex Webster told the newspaper that "Darren wanted an apprenticeship and he has worked very hard and created fine class work".

Other WorldSkills UK categories include joinery and plastering.

Written by Andrew Miles